Shloka 4

Devanagari script

संभवं च महादेव्याः प्राह तेषां महात्मनाम् सूत उवाच ब्रह्मणा कथितं पूर्वं दण्डिने तत् सुविस्तरम्

Transliteration

saṃbhavaṃ ca mahādevyāḥ prāha teṣāṃ mahātmanām sūta uvāca brahmaṇā kathitaṃ pūrvaṃ daṇḍine tat suvistaram

Translation

അപ്പോൾ പുരാണജ്ഞന്മാരിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ സൂതൻ ആ മഹാത്മ ഋഷികൾക്ക് മഹാദേവിയുടെ സംഭവത്തെ വിവരിച്ചു. സൂതൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഈ വൃത്താന്തം മുമ്പ് ബ്രഹ്മാവ് ദണ്ഡിനോട് വിശദമായി പറഞ്ഞതാണ്।

Word by Word

• saṃbhavam: origin/manifestation

• ca: and

• mahādevyāḥ: of Mahādevī (the Great Goddess)

• prāha: spoke/told

• teṣām: to them

• mahātmanām: of the great-souled (sages)

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• brahmaṇā: by Brahmā

• kathitam: narrated/declared

• pūrvam: formerly/previously

• daṇḍine: to Daṇḍin

• tat: that (account)

• suvistaram: in great detail/at length

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Mahadevi
• Brahma
• Dandin

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames Mahādevī’s manifestation as an authoritative Purāṇic teaching lineage (Brahmā → Daṇḍin → Sūta), grounding later Śiva-Śakti based Linga worship in a sanctioned transmission.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By introducing Mahādevī’s origin within the Śaiva narrative, it implies Shiva-tattva as Pati (the Lord) inseparable from Śakti, through whom creation and revelation are articulated.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific pūjā-vidhi or Pāśupata yoga limb is stated; the verse highlights śāstra-paramparā (teaching transmission), which is foundational for correctly receiving mantra, vrata, and Linga-pūjā instructions later.