Shloka 16

मयस्य शिवस्तुतिः — Maya’s Hymn to Śiva

and Śiva’s Gracious Response

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इति संप्रार्थ्यमानस्तु शंकरः परमेश्वरः । प्रत्युवाच मये नाथ प्रसन्नो भक्तवत्सलः

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | iti saṃprārthyamānastu śaṃkaraḥ parameśvaraḥ | pratyuvāca maye nātha prasanno bhaktavatsalaḥ

Translation

Sanatkumāra said: Thus earnestly entreated, Śaṅkara—the Supreme Lord—being gracious and ever affectionate to His devotees, replied to Mayā, pleased: “O Nātha (my Lord) …”

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (सनत् + कुमार)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-शब्दः; अव्यय, वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• संप्रार्थ्यमानः: being earnestly entreated
• संप्रार्थ्यमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+प्र+अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/भावे शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present Passive Participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/अनुक्रमसूचक

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परमेश्वरः: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरः: Apposition (समाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (परम + ईश्वर)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति+वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मये: in me
• मये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; वैदिक/आर्ष-रूप (मयि/मये)

• नाथ: O lord
• नाथ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/संबोधन), एकवचन

• प्रसन्नः: pleased
• प्रसन्नः: Predicate (विशेष्य-विशेषण/समाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• भक्तवत्सलः: affectionate to devotees
• भक्तवत्सलः: Predicate (विशेष्य-विशेषण/समाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्तवत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (भक्त + वत्सल)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights bhaktavātsalya as the core ‘kṣetra-phala’: the Lord responds to sincere prayer—model for approaching any liṅga/temple with humility and intensity.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Shankara, Parameshvara)

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Parameśvara who responds when sincerely prayed to, emphasizing bhakti as a direct means to receive His anugraha (grace) that loosens pāśa (bondage) and turns the soul toward liberation.

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

The verse presents Saguna Śiva—Śaṅkara with compassionate qualities (bhaktavatsala). In Linga worship, this is experienced as the approachable Lord who accepts prayer, becomes pleased, and bestows protection and spiritual upliftment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Earnest supplication with devotion is central—practically expressed through daily Śiva-pūjā to the Liṅga, japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and prayerful surrender (śaraṇāgati) seeking Śiva’s grace.