Shloka 4

अध्याय ४९ — विवाहानुष्ठाने ब्रह्मणः काममोहः

Brahmā’s Enchantment by Desire during the Wedding Rites

Devanagari script

तत्राद्भुतमलञ्चक्रे चरितं गिरिजापतिः । तदेव शृणु देवर्षे तवस्नेहाद्ब्रवीम्यहम्

Transliteration

tatrādbhutamalañcakre caritaṃ girijāpatiḥ | tadeva śṛṇu devarṣe tavasnehādbravīmyaham

Translation

There, the Lord of Girijā (Śiva) performed a truly wondrous divine deed. Listen to that very account, O devarṣi; out of affection for you, I shall relate it.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful
• अद्भुतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying चरितम्)

• अलम्: fully/indeed
• अलम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पर्याप्त्यर्थक/समर्थ्ये (enough/adequately; here as intensifier with कृ)

• चक्रे: did/performed
• चक्रे: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• चरितम्: deed/episode
• चरितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भावे क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गिरिजा-पतिः: the husband of Girijā (Śiva)
• गिरिजा-पतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिजा (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गिरिजायाः पतिः)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (refers to the episode)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• शृणु: hear/listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवर्षे: O divine sage
• देवर्षे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्नेहात्: out of affection
• स्नेहात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान Cause-Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• ब्रवीमि: I tell
• ब्रवीमि: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Brahma (narrating to Devarṣi Nārada)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It signals that Śiva’s līlā (wondrous deeds) is being narrated not as mere story, but as a grace-filled teaching—received through devotion and transmitted through affectionate guru-like narration, fostering bhakti and faith in Pati (Śiva) as the compassionate Lord.

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

By highlighting Śiva as Girijā-pati who ‘performs wondrous deeds,’ the verse frames Saguna Śiva as accessible through narrative remembrance (śravaṇa). Such śravaṇa supports Linga-worship by deepening personal devotion to the Lord whose presence the Liṅga signifies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa (devotional listening) of Śiva-kathā; it can be paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” before or after listening to internalize the teaching and evoke Śiva’s grace.