Shloka 4

सतीप्राप्तिविषये ब्रह्मरुद्रसंवादः | The Brahmā–Śiva Dialogue on Attaining Satī

Devanagari script

अथ प्रीत्या हरो लोक गतिमाश्रित्य लीलया । सत्या भक्त्या च मां क्षिप्रमुवाच प्राकृतो यथा

Transliteration

atha prītyā haro loka gatimāśritya līlayā | satyā bhaktyā ca māṃ kṣipramuvāca prākṛto yathā

Translation

Then Lord Hara, pleased and out of playful grace, assuming an ordinary worldly manner, quickly spoke to me—moved by Satī’s sincere devotion.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तरार्थक

• prītyā: with affection
• prītyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• haraḥ: Hara (Śiva)
• haraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• loka-gatim: the way of the world
• loka-gatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘लोकस्य गतिः’ (course/way of the world); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• āśritya: having adopted/resorted to
• āśritya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-śri (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund): ‘आश्रित्य’ (having resorted to); धातु: √श्रि (to resort to) उपसर्ग: आ

• līlayā: playfully, as a sport
• līlayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: līlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• satyā: with true/genuine
• satyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying भक्ति)

• bhaktyā: with devotion
• bhaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kṣipram: quickly
• kṣipram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṣipram (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• prākṛtaḥ: like an ordinary person
• prākṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prākṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of हरो)

• yathā: as, just like
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative manner)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Hara)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace): though transcendent, He willingly adopts an accessible, “ordinary” mode to guide devotees, responding swiftly to Sati’s sincere bhakti.

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

Śiva here is Saguna—personally responsive and communicative. Like Linga-worship where the formless is approached through a gracious form, He makes Himself approachable in a manner the devotee can receive.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate direct bhakti—daily japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a simple offering (water/bilva) and steady sincerity, trusting Śiva’s quick compassionate response.