Shloka 28

अध्याय ४९ — विवाहानुष्ठाने ब्रह्मणः काममोहः

Brahmā’s Enchantment by Desire during the Wedding Rites

Devanagari script

कथं स्तोष्यामि देवेश त्वां विभो परमेश्वर । वाचामगोचरोऽसि त्वं मनसा चापि शंकर

Transliteration

kathaṃ stoṣyāmi deveśa tvāṃ vibho parameśvara | vācāmagocaro'si tvaṃ manasā cāpi śaṃkara

Translation

O Lord of the gods, O all-pervading Supreme Lord—how can I praise You? O Śaṅkara, You are beyond the reach of speech, and beyond the mind as well.

Word by Word

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prakāra (प्रकार/रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• स्तोष्यामि: shall I praise
• स्तोष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; parasmaipada

• देवेश: O Lord of gods
• देवेश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; vocative singular; देवस्य ईशः

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular

• विभो: O all-pervading one
• विभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; vocative singular

• परमेश्वर: O Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; vocative singular; ‘परम’ विशेषण + ‘ईश्वर’

• वाचाम्: of speech/words
• वाचाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; genitive plural

• अगोचरः: not within reach (inexpressible)
• अगोचरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-गोचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular; न गोचरः (negated)

• असि: are
• असि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; parasmaipada

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular

• मनसा: by the mind
• मनसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; instrumental singular

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

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ-अव्यय (also/even particle)

• शंकर: O Śaṅkara
• शंकर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; vocative singular

Speaker

Parvati

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: कथं स्तोष्यामि देवेश त्वां विभो परमेश्वर । वाचामगोचरोऽसि त्वं मनसा चापि शंकर

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It affirms Shiva as Pati—the Supreme Reality transcending speech and thought—so devotion matures from mere description to direct inner reverence, surrender, and experiential awareness.

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

Though Shiva is nirguṇa and beyond mind and words, the Linga and other saguna forms provide a sacred support (ālambana) for bhakti and contemplation, enabling the devotee to approach the transcendent through worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice silent japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and inward dhyāna on Shiva as consciousness beyond concepts; let external stuti be complemented by quiet, focused meditation.