Shloka 2

पुराणश्रवणप्रस्तावः

Prologue to the Recitation of the Śaiva Purāṇa

Devanagari script

इति श्रुत्वा मुनीनां स वचनं सुप्रहर्षितः । संस्मरञ्छंकरं सूतः प्रोवाच मुनिसत्तमान्

Transliteration

iti śrutvā munīnāṃ sa vacanaṃ supraharṣitaḥ | saṃsmarañchaṃkaraṃ sūtaḥ provāca munisattamān

Translation

Having thus heard the words of the sages, he became exceedingly delighted. Remembering Śaṅkara (Lord Śiva), Sūta then addressed those foremost among the munis.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative particle), ‘thus’ इत्यर्थे

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having heard’

• मुनीनाम्: of the sages
• मुनीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• वचनम्: statement/words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• सुप्रहर्षितः: greatly delighted
• सुप्रहर्षितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-प्र-हृषित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; हृष् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘well/very delighted’

• संस्मरन्: remembering
• संस्मरन्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘remembering’

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रोवाच: spoke
• प्रोवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘said/spoke’

• मुनिसत्तमान्: the best of sages
• मुनिसत्तमान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि+सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘of sages’ + ‘best’); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Suta
• Sages (Munis)

FAQs

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

It shows the Shaiva model of sacred teaching: the narrator first recollects Śaṅkara with devotion and only then speaks, implying that true knowledge and auspicious narration arise under Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

Though the Liṅga is not named here, “remembering Śaṅkara” reflects Saguna-bhakti—holding Shiva in mind as the compassionate Lord—an inner act that supports outer worship such as Liṅga-pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Smaraṇa (remembrance) of Shiva before study, recitation, or discourse—optionally preceded by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to sanctify speech and attention.