Shloka 1

Devanagari script

व्यास उवाच । सनत्कुमार सर्वज्ञ ब्रह्मपुत्र नमोस्तु ते । अद्भुतेयं कथा तात श्राविता मे त्वया मुने

Transliteration

vyāsa uvāca | sanatkumāra sarvajña brahmaputra namostu te | adbhuteyaṃ kathā tāta śrāvitā me tvayā mune

Translation

Vyāsa said: “O Sanatkumāra, all-knowing son of Brahmā, salutations to you. O revered sage, dear one—this wondrous sacred account has been made known to me by you.”

Word by Word

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन

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

• सनत्कुमार: O Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमार: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत् + कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative); एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सनत् = सनातनः, कुमारः)

• सर्वज्ञ: O omniscient one
• सर्वज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (Vocative); एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वं जानाति)

• ब्रह्मपुत्र: O son of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मपुत्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (Vocative); एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः पुत्रः)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Kriya (क्रिया/अभिवादन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (नमः + अस्तु)

• अस्तु: may it be
• अस्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/benedictive sense); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative); एकवचन; एन्क्लिटिक रूप

• अद्भुता: wonderful
• अद्भुता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन; कथा इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन

• कथा: story, account
• कथा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन

• तात: dear one, sir
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (Vocative); एकवचन; स्नेहसम्बोधन

• श्राविता: was caused to be heard / was narrated
• श्राविता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रावय (णिच्) → श्रावित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः—‘कथा’ कर्तृस्थाने (passive construction)

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-रूप (Dative/Genitive); एकवचन; अत्र कर्मणि प्रयोगे श्रोत्रे-सम्प्रदानार्थे (to me)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana/Karta (करण/कर्ता-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (Vocative); एकवचन

Speaker

Vyāsa

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Sanatkumara
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śravaṇa (devout listening) and reverence to the guru-sage: sacred Shaiva truth is received through a realized teacher, and humility becomes the gateway to Shiva-bhakti and right understanding.

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

Though the Linga is not named here, the verse establishes the Purāṇic method: knowledge of Saguna Shiva’s līlā and the Linga’s glory is transmitted through authoritative narration; honoring the narrator safeguards the sanctity of Shiva-kathā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is Shiva-kathā-śravaṇa with devotion—regular listening/recitation in a pure setting, preceded by salutations to the teacher and remembrance of Shiva (often supported by japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).