Shloka 4

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

सती हेमवती तस्या अवतारद्वयं श्रुतम् । अपरानवतारांस्त्वं ब्रूहि सूत् महामते

Transliteration

satī hemavatī tasyā avatāradvayaṃ śrutam | aparānavatārāṃstvaṃ brūhi sūt mahāmate

Translation

We have heard of her two incarnations—Satī and Hemavatī. O Sūta, O great-minded one, please tell us of her other incarnations as well.

Word by Word

• satī: Satī
• satī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• hemavatī: Hemavatī
• hemavatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hemavatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), षष्ठी (Gen. 6), एकवचन (sg.)

• avatāra-dvayam: the two incarnations
• avatāra-dvayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avatāra (प्रातिपदिक) + dvi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1/2), एकवचन (sg.)

• śrutam: has been heard
• śrutam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1/2), एकवचन (sg.); कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘श्रुतम्’ = ‘has been heard’

• aparān: other
• aparān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), बहुवचन (pl.)

• avatārān: incarnations
• avatārān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), बहुवचन (pl.)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuzmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुषार्थे (2nd person pronoun), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• brūhi: tell
• brūhi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

• sūta: O Sūta
• sūta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन (Voc. 8), एकवचन (sg.)

• mahā-mate: O great-minded one
• mahā-mate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (उपसर्ग/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) + mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन (Voc. 8), एकवचन (sg.)

Speaker

The sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (addressing Sūta Gosvāmin)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Sati
• Hemavati
• Suta Goswami

FAQs

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

The verse shows the devotees’ earnest inquiry into Śakti’s manifestations—recognizing that the Divine Mother appears in multiple forms to support dharma and to reveal Shiva-tattva through lived, devotional narratives.

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

By asking about Devī’s incarnations, the sages seek the sacred history that culminates in devotion to Saguna Shiva—where Śakti’s forms guide beings toward Shiva-bhakti, often expressed through Linga worship and related observances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śravaṇa (devotional listening) and kīrtana (recounting) of Shiva–Śakti līlās; such attentive hearing is traditionally paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") for inner purification.