Shloka 6

Munipraśna-varṇana

Description of the Sages’ Inquiry

Devanagari script

रोमहर्षण सर्वज्ञ भवान्वै भाग्यगौरवात् । पुराणविद्यामखिलां व्यासात्प्रत्यर्थमीयिवान्

Transliteration

romaharṣaṇa sarvajña bhavānvai bhāgyagauravāt | purāṇavidyāmakhilāṃ vyāsātpratyarthamīyivān

Translation

O Romaharṣaṇa, O omniscient one—by the splendour of your good fortune you have received from Vyāsa the entire Purāṇic lore, complete with its true meanings.

Word by Word

• रोमहर्षण: O Romaharṣaṇa
• रोमहर्षण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोमहर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• सर्वज्ञ: O all-knowing one
• सर्वज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (सर्वं जानाति), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; qualifies ‘रोमहर्षण’

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (आदरार्थे)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• भाग्यगौरवात्: due to the greatness of (your) fortune
• भाग्यगौरवात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान/Cause-Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग्य-गौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (भाग्यस्य गौरवम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-प्रयोगे, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• पुराणविद्याम्: the knowledge of the Purāṇas
• पुराणविद्याम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण-विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (पुराणस्य विद्या), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• अखिलाम्: entire, complete
• अखिलाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; qualifies ‘पुराणविद्याम्’

• व्यासात्: from Vyāsa
• व्यासात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• प्रति: towards, fully
• प्रति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preverb/adverb)

• अर्थम्: meaning, import
• अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म/extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; adverbial accusative ‘in meaning/fully’

• ईयिवान्: has attained, has reached
• ईयिवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त (Perfect participle/agentive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; ‘one who has gone/attained’

Speaker

The sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (headed by Śaunaka) addressing Sūta (Romaharṣaṇa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Romaharshana

FAQs

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

It sanctifies the guru–śiṣya lineage: sacred knowledge becomes spiritually fruitful when received from an authentic source (Vyāsa) along with its correct meaning, enabling right understanding that supports devotion to Pati (Śiva) and liberation.

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

By affirming that Romaharṣaṇa knows the Purāṇas with their intended sense, the verse prepares the listener to receive authoritative teaching on Saguna Śiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—without distortion, as transmitted in the Vidyeśvara Saṃhitā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa (devout listening) and manana (reflective contemplation) of Śiva-kathā from a qualified teacher—an essential discipline that supports mantra-japa and daily Śiva-pūjā taught later in the Saṃhitā.