Shloka 1

कामप्रादुर्भावः — The Manifestation/Arising of Kāma

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य नेमिषारण्यवासिनः । पप्रच्छ च मुनिश्रेष्ठः कथां पापप्रणाशिनीम्

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | ityākarṇya vacastasya nemiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ | papraccha ca muniśreṣṭhaḥ kathāṃ pāpapraṇāśinīm

Translation

Sūta said: Having heard his words, the sages dwelling in Naimiṣāraṇya—then the foremost of sages asked again for that sacred narrative which destroys sin.

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-कर्ण् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having heard’

• वचः: words/speech
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him/of that (person)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध) विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नेमिषारण्यवासिनः: the residents of Naimiṣāraṇya
• नेमिषारण्यवासिनः: Karta (कर्ता) (understood: the dwellers)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेमिषारण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी: ‘नेमिषारण्ये वासिनः’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पप्रच्छ: asked
• पप्रच्छ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/लुङ्-रूप (narrative past; commonly treated as लिट् perfect in epic style), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मुनिश्रेष्ठः: the best of sages
• मुनिश्रेष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘munīnām śreṣṭhaḥ’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कथाम्: a story/discourse
• कथाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पापप्रणाशिनीम्: sin-destroying
• पापप्रणाशिनीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रणाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: ‘पापस्य प्रणाशिनी’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; agrees with ‘कथाम्’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Naimiṣāraṇya is framed as a dharma-kṣetra where repeated inquiry into Śiva-kathā is itself a means of pāpa-prakṣālana (washing away sin).

Significance: Merit of sat-saṅga and kathā-śravaṇa; reinforces the Purāṇic path of purification through hearing and inquiry.

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Naimiṣāraṇya sages

FAQs

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

It highlights śravaṇa (devout listening) as a purifying Shaiva practice: hearing Shiva-related kathā with faith burns pāpa and prepares the seeker for grace (anugraha) and liberation.

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

The verse frames the path of Saguna devotion through narrative remembrance: by hearing Shiva’s deeds and truths, the mind becomes fit for Linga-worship, mantra-japa, and steady bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular śāstra-śravaṇa of Shiva Purana kathā—especially on auspicious days like Mahāśivarātri—paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) is the practical takeaway.