Shloka 4

Svagati-varṇana

Description of the Supreme State / One’s True Attainment

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । महर्षयश्शौनकाद्याः शृणुत प्रेमतः शुभम् । शांकरं चरितं दिव्यं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं परम्

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | maharṣayaśśaunakādyāḥ śṛṇuta premataḥ śubham | śāṃkaraṃ caritaṃ divyaṃ bhuktimuktipradaṃ param

Translation

Sūta said: “O great sages beginning with Śaunaka, listen with loving attention to this auspicious account—the divine deeds of Śaṅkara (Lord Śiva), supreme in nature, which bestow both worldly well-being (bhukti) and liberation (mukti).”

Word by Word

• sūtaḥ: Sūta
• sūtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Tinganta, Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• maharṣayaḥ: great sages
• maharṣayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maharṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śaunaka-ādyāḥ: beginning with Śaunaka
• śaunaka-ādyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaunaka (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘शौनकः आदिः येषाम्’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies ‘maharṣayaḥ’

• śṛṇuta: listen
• śṛṇuta: Kriya (क्रिया/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Tinganta, Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• premataḥ: with love
• premataḥ: Hetu (हेतु/manner-cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prema (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), ablatival adverb (तसिल्-अर्थ) ‘out of love/with affection’

• śubham: auspicious (account)
• śubham: Karma (कर्म/object of ‘listen’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śāṃkaram: of Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• śāṃkaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies ‘caritam’

• caritam: deeds/legend
• caritam: Karma (कर्म/object of ‘listen’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• divyam: divine
• divyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies ‘caritam’

• bhukti-mukti-pradam: granting enjoyment and liberation
• bhukti-mukti-pradam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhukti (प्रातिपदिक) + mukti (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘भुक्तिं मुक्तिं च प्रददाति’; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies ‘caritam’

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies ‘caritam’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (Sūta)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Programmatic phala-śruti style opening: hearing Śaṅkara-carita grants both bhukti and mukti; not tied to a specific liṅga-site here.

Significance: Śravaṇa (devotional listening) to Śiva-kathā is presented as a direct means to both worldly welfare and liberation, aligning with Purāṇic upāsanā as sādhana.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shaunaka

FAQs

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

It declares that hearing Śiva’s divine līlā with devotion is itself auspicious and becomes a means to both dharmic well-being (bhukti) and final release (mukti), aligning devotion (bhakti) with liberation under Śiva’s grace.

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

By praising “Śāṅkara-carita,” it points to Saguna Śiva—Śiva known through divine qualities and narratives—whose worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā) is traditionally supported by śravaṇa (hearing) and kīrtana (praise) of His deeds.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The direct practice implied is śravaṇa-bhakti: devoted listening to Śiva-kathā. As a complementary Shaiva discipline, one may pair this with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to internalize the teaching.