Shloka 24

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य प्रजेशस्य वचनं जगदम्बिका । प्रत्युवाच विहस्येति स्मृत्वा तं मनसा शिवम्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ityākarṇya prajeśasya vacanaṃ jagadambikā | pratyuvāca vihasyeti smṛtvā taṃ manasā śivam

Translation

Brahmā said: Having thus heard the words of Prajāpati, Jagadambikā replied with a gentle smile, inwardly remembering Śiva within her mind.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular

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

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक (quotative)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Pūrvakriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-कर्त्/कर्ण् (धातु: कर्ण् ‘to hear’)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-रूप (absolutive/gerund) from √कर्ण् with आ-; 'having heard'

• प्रजेशस्य: of Prajeśa (lord of creatures)
• प्रजेशस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; genitive singular; तत्पुरुष—'प्रजानाम् ईशः' (lord of creatures)

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular

• जगदम्बिका: Jagadambikā (Mother of the world)
• जगदम्बिका: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत्-अम्बिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular; तत्पुरुष—'जगतः अम्बिका' (Mother of the world)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उप-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular perfect

• विहस्य: having smiled/laughed
• विहस्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Pūrvakriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-हस् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-रूप (absolutive/gerund); 'having laughed/smiled'

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक (quotative)

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Pūrvakriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); 'having remembered'

• तम्: that (him)
• तम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular; refers to 'शिवम्'

• मनसा: with the mind/mentally
• मनसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; instrumental singular

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Prajapati (Daksha)
• Jagadambika (Sati/Devi)
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva-smṛti (inner remembrance of Śiva) as the Devi’s immediate refuge—showing that even amid worldly counsel, the highest orientation is turning the mind to Pati (Śiva), the liberating Lord.

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

Though no Linga is mentioned, the verse models Saguna-bhakti: holding Śiva as a personal Lord in the heart (mānasa-smaraṇa), which is central to Shaiva worship and later expressed outwardly through Linga-pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mānasa-japa and smaraṇa: silently remembering Śiva (and, by extension, mentally repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a steady inner practice alongside external rites like bhasma and rudrākṣa.