Shloka 18

शिवशिवयोर्जगत्पितृमातृत्व-प्रतिपादनं तथा मेनायाः विमोहः (Śiva–Śivā as Cosmic Father and Mother; Menā’s Delusion and the Sages’ Intervention)

Devanagari script

अथ शैलेश्वरं ते च बोधयामासुरादरात् । स्मृत्वा शिवपदद्वन्द्वं सर्वे वाक्यविशारदाः

Transliteration

atha śaileśvaraṃ te ca bodhayāmāsurādarāt | smṛtvā śivapadadvandvaṃ sarve vākyaviśāradāḥ

Translation

Then, with reverent earnestness, they roused Śaileśvara; and all those skilled in speech, remembering the pair of Śiva’s sacred words, addressed him.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ/अनन्तर (then)

• शैल-ईश्वरम्: the lord of the mountain (Himālaya)
• शैल-ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘शैलस्य ईश्वरः’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; refers to sages

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• बोधयामासुः: instructed/made understand
• बोधयामासुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

• आदरात्: out of respect
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; ablative of cause

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• शिव-पद-द्वन्द्वम्: the pair of Śiva’s feet
• शिव-पद-द्वन्द्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भाव: ‘शिवस्य पदयोः द्वन्द्वम्’ = pair of feet); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• वाक्य-विशारदाः: skilled in speech
• वाक्य-विशारदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी/विषय: ‘वाक्येषु विशारदाः’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; qualifies ‘सर्वे’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The sages reverently ‘awaken’ Śaileśvara (Himālaya) and remember ‘Śiva-pada-dvandva’—readable as remembrance of Śiva’s holy feet/words before making an auspicious request.

Significance: Encourages smaraṇa of Śiva’s pāda (feet) as a grace-bearing focus; in Siddhānta, pāda-sevā symbolizes turning from pāśa toward pati through devotion and right intention.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights that true approach to Shiva begins with reverence (ādara) and smaraṇa (remembrance)—turning the mind to Shiva’s sacred presence (his ‘feet/words’) before speaking or acting, aligning the soul toward grace.

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

“Awakening” Śaileśvara reflects devotional upacāra—treating Saguna Shiva as personally present and responsive in worship (as in Linga-pūjā), where remembrance and invocation precede dialogue, prayer, and offerings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Begin with Shiva-smaraṇa and mantra-japa—especially the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—then speak/pray with disciplined words; this mirrors the pūjā sequence of invocation and mindful address.