Shloka 32

अध्याय ४९ — विवाहानुष्ठाने ब्रह्मणः काममोहः

Brahmā’s Enchantment by Desire during the Wedding Rites

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तेषां प्रसन्नः परमेश्वरः । ब्रह्मणो मे ददौ शीघ्रमभयं भक्तवत्सलः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ityākarṇya vacasteṣāṃ prasannaḥ parameśvaraḥ | brahmaṇo me dadau śīghramabhayaṃ bhaktavatsalaḥ

Translation

Brahmā said: Having thus heard their words, the Supreme Lord became gracious; the Lord, ever affectionate to His devotees, quickly granted fearlessness to me, Brahmā.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-समाप्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + कर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; (यहाँ द्वितीया—‘आकर्ण्य’ का कर्म)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• प्रसन्नः: pleased
• प्रसन्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (परमेश्वरस्य)

• परमेश्वरः: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘परमः ईश्वरः’)

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• अभयम्: fearlessness/assurance of safety
• अभयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भक्तवत्सलः: affectionate to devotees
• भक्तवत्सलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त-वात्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘भक्तेषु वत्सलः’) विशेषण (परमेश्वरस्य)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This is a narrative pivot: after praise, Śiva grants ‘abhaya’ (fearlessness). It mirrors many sthala-purāṇa patterns where sincere stuti leads to direct boon, but no specific Jyotirliṅga is identified.

Significance: Models the Siddhānta principle that liberation-oriented safety (abhaya) arises from Śiva’s anugraha responding to devotion and right praise.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Parameśvara who responds to sincere supplication with grace (anugraha), granting “abhaya” that steadies the soul and supports liberation-oriented living.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva’s personal compassion (bhaktavatsalya): in Linga-worship, devotees approach Śiva as the accessible Lord who hears prayers and bestows protection and inner fearlessness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to seek Śiva’s “abhaya” through bhakti—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and a prayer for protection and steadiness of mind.