Shloka 3

हिमाचलविवाहवर्णनम् — Description of Himācala’s

context for) Marriage / The Himālaya-Marriage Narrative (Chapter Opening

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । शृणु त्वं मुनिशार्दूल शिवाचरितमुत्तमम् । पावनं परमं दिव्यं सर्वपापहरं शुभम्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | śṛṇu tvaṃ muniśārdūla śivācaritamuttamam | pāvanaṃ paramaṃ divyaṃ sarvapāpaharaṃ śubham

Translation

Brahmā said: O tiger among sages, listen to the supreme sacred narrative of Śiva—most purifying, highest and divine, auspicious, and the remover of all sins.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्सभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मुनि-शार्दूल: O tiger among sages
• मुनि-शार्दूल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (descriptive: ‘tiger among sages’), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• शिव-आचरितम्: Śiva’s conduct/deeds
• शिव-आचरितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आचरित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; आ-चर् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (genitive sense: ‘of Śiva’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण शिव-आचरितम्-विशेषण

• पावनम्: purifying
• पावनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of śivācaritam)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सर्व-पाप-हरम्: removing all sins
• सर्व-पाप-हरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + हर (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; हृ धातु)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General phalaśruti-style framing: Śiva-carita as supremely purifying and sin-destroying; not tied to a specific Jyotirliṅga locale.

Significance: Śravaṇa of Śiva-kathā is itself treated as tīrtha-like: purification (pāvana), auspiciousness (śubha), and pāpa-kṣaya.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It establishes śravaṇa (devotional listening) of Śiva’s charita as a purifying sādhanā: the narrative itself is described as divine and capable of removing sin, orienting the listener toward Shiva’s grace and auspiciousness.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By praising Śiva’s “charita,” the text directs devotion to Saguna Shiva—His accessible deeds and forms—through which devotees cultivate bhakti that supports deeper understanding of Shiva’s supreme nature beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular śravaṇa (hearing) and pāṭha (recitation) of Shiva Purana with a devotional mindset; as a practical complement, one may pair it with japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” aligning the mind to Śiva’s auspicious presence.