Shloka 1

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । एकदा तु शिवज्ञानी शिवलीलाविदांवरः । हिमाचलगृहं प्रीत्यागमस्त्वं शिवप्रेरितः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ekadā tu śivajñānī śivalīlāvidāṃvaraḥ | himācalagṛhaṃ prītyāgamastvaṃ śivapreritaḥ

Translation

Brahmā said: Once, a knower of Śiva—foremost among those who understand Śiva’s divine līlā—went with joy to the house of Himācala, prompted by Śiva Himself.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• एकदा: once
• एकदा: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ekadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• तु: but, then
• तु: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक निपात (contrastive particle)

• शिव-ज्ञानी: knower of Śiva (Śiva-wise)
• शिव-ज्ञानी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + jñānin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Śiva-jñānī = one who knows Śiva/Śiva-knowledge)

• शिव-लीला-विदाम्-वरः: the best among knowers of Śiva’s līlās
• शिव-लीला-विदाम्-वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + līlā (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (प्रातिपदिक: vid- ‘knower’) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (शिवलीलानां विदाम्) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष + वरः (श्रेष्ठः)

• हिमाचल-गृहम्: Himācala’s home
• हिमाचल-गृहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: himācala (प्रातिपदिक) + gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Himācala’s house)

• प्रीत्या: with joy, gladly
• प्रीत्या: Hetu/Instrument (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• अगमः: you went
• अगमः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (aorist), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शिव-प्रेरितः: impelled by Śiva
• शिव-प्रेरितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + prerita (कृदन्त; √prer (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it introduces a divinely prompted mission to Himācala’s abode—typical Purāṇic setup for Devī-Śiva marriage/tapas narratives.

Significance: Frames pilgrimage/approach (āgama) as Śiva-preraṇā: sacred journeys and meetings occur by divine grace, not mere human planning.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Himachala

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati (the supreme Lord) who inwardly prompts the movement of enlightened beings; the devotee’s journey is shown as guided by divine grace rather than mere personal desire.

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

By emphasizing Śiva’s active guidance (Saguna Śiva as compassionate Lord), it supports devotional worship where the devotee seeks direction through prayer, Linga-pūjā, and remembrance of Śiva’s līlā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Follow divine prompting through daily Śiva-smaraṇa and japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), approaching sacred places and holy company with prīti (devotional joy).