Shloka 7

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

शृण्वतां पृच्छतां चैव तथा वाचयतां च तत् । पादाम्बुजरजांस्येव तीर्थानि मुनयो विदुः

Transliteration

śṛṇvatāṃ pṛcchatāṃ caiva tathā vācayatāṃ ca tat | pādāmbujarajāṃsyeva tīrthāni munayo viduḥ

Translation

Les sages savent que pour ceux qui écoutent, questionnent et récitent aussi cet enseignement, il devient véritablement un tīrtha sacré, tel la poussière des pieds de lotus du Seigneur.

Word by Word

• शृण्वताम्: of the listeners
• शृण्वताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle) ‘शृण्वत्’; षष्ठी, बहुवचन (gen. pl.: ‘of those who listen’)

• पृच्छताम्: of the questioners
• पृच्छताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त ‘पृच्छत्’; षष्ठी, बहुवचन (gen. pl.: ‘of those who ask’)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/so)

• वाचयताम्: of those who make (others) recite/teach
• वाचयताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वच् (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: णिजन्त-धातोः वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त ‘वाचयत्’; षष्ठी, बहुवचन (gen. pl.: ‘of those who cause to recite/teach’)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (here: ‘that (act/thing)’)

• पादाम्बुजरजांसि: the dust of the lotus-feet
• पादाम्बुजरजांसि: Upamāna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद + अम्बुज + रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पादस्य अम्बुजं; तस्य रजः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• तीर्थानि: holy places, pilgrimages
• तीर्थानि: Karma (कर्म) / Predicate
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विदुः: know, consider
• विदुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific sthala; the verse universalizes kathā-śravaṇa/pāṭha as a movable tīrtha—sanctity generated by contact with the Lord’s pāda-rajas (metaphorically through teaching).

Significance: Transforms listening, questioning, and recitation into tīrtha-sevā; grants purification comparable to pilgrimage merit.

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-kathā becomes a living tīrtha: by listening, sincere inquiry, and recitation/teaching, one gains sanctification comparable to contact with the Lord’s lotus-feet—pointing to grace (anugraha) that purifies the bonds (pāśa).

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

It frames devotion not only as external pilgrimage but as approaching Saguna Shiva through His narrative and praise; hearing and reciting the Lord’s glories is treated as direct devotional contact, akin to reverencing His lotus-feet—supporting Linga-worship with inner bhakti and remembrance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular śravaṇa (hearing), praśna (asking to clarify), and vācana/pāṭha (recitation or teaching) of Shiva Purana passages as a daily sādhana—especially on auspicious days like Mahāśivarātri—performed with devotion and purity of intention.