Shloka 5

Svagati-varṇana

Description of the Supreme State / One’s True Attainment

Devanagari script

इतीदृशं पुण्यप्रश्नं पृष्टवान्मुनिसत्तमः । व्यासस्सनत्कुमारं वै शैवं सच्चरितं जगौ

Transliteration

itīdṛśaṃ puṇyapraśnaṃ pṛṣṭavānmunisattamaḥ | vyāsassanatkumāraṃ vai śaivaṃ saccaritaṃ jagau

Translation

かく功徳ある問いを発したのち、最勝の聖仙ヴィヤーサは、サナトクマーラに、シヴァの真実なるシャイヴァの聖なる物語を語った。

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotative particle (इति-वाचक)

• īdṛśam: such
• īdṛśam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īdṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies ‘praśnam’

• puṇya-praśnam: a holy question
• puṇya-praśnam: Karma (कर्म/object of ‘asked’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + praśna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘पुण्यः प्रश्नः’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pṛṣṭavān: asked
• pṛṣṭavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (धातु) + kta-vat (क्तवत्)
• Form: Kridanta, past active participle (कर्तरि भूतकृदन्त/क्तवत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• muni-sattamaḥ: the best of sages
• muni-sattamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘मुनीनां सत्तमः’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vyāsaḥ: Vyāsa
• vyāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sanat-kumāram: Sanatkumāra
• sanat-kumāram: Karma (कर्म/object of ‘told/spoke to’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanatkumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात) for emphasis

• śaivam: Śaiva / pertaining to Śiva
• śaivam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies ‘caritam’

• sat-caritam: true/holy narrative
• sat-caritam: Karma (कर्म/object of ‘jagau’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + carita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘सत् चरितम्’; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• jagau: narrated / sang
• jagau: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gai (धातु)
• Form: Tinganta, Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakshinamurti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vyasa
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It highlights that sincere, dharmic inquiry (puṇya-praśna) becomes the doorway to receiving the authentic Śaiva teaching—Śiva’s sacred narrative that turns the mind toward Pati (Śiva) and liberation.

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

By introducing the “śaiva satcarita,” the verse frames the coming discourse as an authoritative foundation for Saguna Śiva-bhakti and Śiva-upāsanā, where stories and teachings culminate in steadiness of devotion toward Śiva (often expressed through Liṅga worship).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa (devout listening) and manana (reflection) on Śiva’s true narrative; as a practical takeaway, one may pair this with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while studying the Purāṇa.