Shloka 3

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

परब्रह्म महेशस्य शक्तिराद्या सनातनी । उमा या समभिख्याता त्रैलोक्यजननी परा

Transliteration

parabrahma maheśasya śaktirādyā sanātanī | umā yā samabhikhyātā trailokyajananī parā

Translation

Umā—renowned by that very name—is the primordial, eternal Śakti of Maheśa, the Supreme Brahman; she is the transcendent Mother who brings forth the three worlds.

Word by Word

• परब्रह्म: the Supreme Brahman
• परब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: परं ब्रह्म; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• महेशस्य: of Maheśa (Śiva)
• महेशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• शक्तिः: power/energy
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• आद्या: primordial
• आद्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘शक्तिः’

• सनातनी: eternal
• सनातनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘शक्तिः’

• उमा: Umā
• उमा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• या: who
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• समभिख्याता: is well-known/called
• समभिख्याता: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अभि + ख्या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; अर्थः ‘well-known/called’

• त्रैलोक्यजननी: mother of the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यजननी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैलोक्य + जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: त्रैलोक्यस्य जननी; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• परा: supreme
• परा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणं (उमा/शक्तिः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It affirms the inseparable Śiva–Śakti principle: Maheśa is the Supreme Reality, and Umā is His eternal, primordial Power through whom the cosmos is manifested—guiding the devotee toward right understanding that liberation comes by grace of Pati (Śiva) along with His Śakti.

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

Linga worship honors Maheśa as the supreme, while devotion to Umā recognizes His manifesting Śakti; together they support Saguna worship that leads the mind to the Nirguna truth—Śiva as Parabrahman, with Śakti as His ever-present power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva with Umā as one reality (Śiva-Śakti aikya) while repeating the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating devotion and insight that the Supreme acts through His eternal Śakti.