Shloka 42

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । स्त्रीणान्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ता उवाच शिवः स्वयम् । निर्विकारश्च भगवान्योगीन्द्राणां गुरोर्गुरुः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | strīṇāntadvacanaṃ śrutvā tā uvāca śivaḥ svayam | nirvikāraśca bhagavānyogīndrāṇāṃ gurorguruḥ

Translation

Brahmā said: Hearing the words of those women, Śiva Himself spoke to them—He, the blessed Lord who is changeless, the supreme Guru even of the gurus of the greatest yogins.

Word by Word

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); speaker tag

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• strīṇām: of the women
• strīṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative qualifying vacanam

• vacanam: speech/words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), 'having heard'

• tāḥ: them (those women)
• tāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (स्वयम्-अव्यय); reflexive emphasis

• nirvikāraḥ: unchanging
• nirvikāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-vikāra (प्रातिपदिक; निर् + विकार)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); epithet of śivaḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); honorific title of śivaḥ

• yogīndrāṇām: of the lords among yogis
• yogīndrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogīndra (प्रातिपदिक; योगिन् + इन्द्र)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• guroḥ: of the teacher
• guroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• guruḥ: teacher
• guruḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate noun: 'guru of gurus'

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It establishes Śiva as Nirvikāra (unchanging Consciousness) and as the highest spiritual authority—the Guru beyond all worldly status—implying that liberation arises from turning to the Pati (Lord) who is untouched by change.

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

Though Śiva is described as Nirvikāra (beyond transformation), He still addresses devotees directly—showing the Shaiva Siddhānta harmony where the transcendent Lord is also graciously accessible through saguna forms such as the Liṅga for worship and guidance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is Guru-bhāva toward Śiva: approach Him through mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and yogic contemplation on His changeless nature, supported by Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa where appropriate.