Shloka 3

सृष्टिवर्णनम्

Cosmogony and the Roles of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । मुने शृणु कथां दिव्यां सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम् । कथ्यमानां मया चित्रां बह्वर्थां श्रुतविस्तराम्

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | mune śṛṇu kathāṃ divyāṃ sarvapāpapraṇāśinīm | kathyamānāṃ mayā citrāṃ bahvarthāṃ śrutavistarām

Translation

Sūta said: O sage, listen to this divine account that destroys all sins. As I narrate it, it is wondrous, rich with many meanings, and expansive according to what has been heard in sacred tradition.

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta (the narrator)
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

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

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कथाम्: story
• कथाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दिव्याम्: divine
• दिव्याम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) of कथाम्

• सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम्: destroyer of all sins
• सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-पाप-प्रणाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण of कथाम्; समास: सर्वपापानां प्रणाशिनी (genitive-tatpurusha)

• कथ्यमानाम्: being narrated
• कथ्यमानाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण of कथाम्

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• चित्राम्: wonderful/variegated
• चित्राम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण of कथाम्

• बह्वर्थाम्: of many meanings
• बह्वर्थाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बह्वर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण of कथाम्; समास: बहवः अर्थाः यस्याम् (descriptive)

• श्रुतविस्तराम्: expanded as heard / widely transmitted
• श्रुतविस्तराम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुत-विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण of कथाम्; समास: श्रुतस्य विस्तारः (tatpurusha)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (Sūta)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

FAQs

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

It glorifies śravaṇa (devotional listening) of a Shiva-centered divine narrative as a purifier that destroys pāpa and opens the listener to deeper, multi-layered spiritual meaning.

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

By presenting the kathā as sin-destroying and divinely transmitted, it frames Saguna Shiva devotion—often expressed through Linga worship—as a valid and potent means for purification and inner transformation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular śravaṇa of Shiva Purana kathā with faith and concentration—ideally supported by japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—is implied as the practical takeaway.