Shloka 7

तपः–मन्त्रजप–ध्यानविधिः

Protocol of Tapas, Mantra-Japa, and Śiva-Dhyāna

Devanagari script

शिवस्तु तद्वचः श्रुत्वा महाप्रभुरुदारघीः । सुविहस्य प्रसन्नात्मा सुरान्वचनमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

śivastu tadvacaḥ śrutvā mahāprabhurudāraghīḥ | suvihasya prasannātmā surānvacanamabravīt

Translation

Hearing those words, Lord Śiva—the great and sovereign Lord, noble in understanding—smiled gently. With a serene heart, He then spoke in reply to the gods.

Word by Word

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• vacaḥ: speech/words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), ‘having heard’

• mahā-prabhuḥ: the great lord
• mahā-prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya-samāsa

• udāra-dhīḥ: of noble intellect
• udāra-dhīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udāra (प्रातिपदिक) + dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya-samāsa; dhī = ‘intellect’

• su-vihasya: having laughed heartily
• su-vihasya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-has (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त) with prefix vi- and intensifier su-; ‘having laughed well/heartily’

• prasanna-ātmā: with a serene mind
• prasanna-ātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya-samāsa

• surān: to the gods
• surān: Sampradāna/Prati (प्रति-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana (plural)

• vacanam: words/speech
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्; imperfect/past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; the quoted action pertains to Lord Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati—the supreme Lord whose consciousness remains serene and compassionate; His gentle smile signifies mastery over the guṇas and a grace-filled response to the Devas.

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

The verse portrays Saguna Śiva: approachable, responsive, and benevolent. Such divine accessibility is the devotional basis for Linga worship—approaching the Lord with prayer and receiving His guiding word (śiva-vākya).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate prasannatā (inner calm) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and offer worship with a composed mind, mirroring Śiva’s serene, gracious disposition.