Shloka 1

सती-शिवचरित्रप्रसङ्गः / The Account of Satī and Śiva’s Divine Conduct

Prelude to Detailed Narrative

Devanagari script

नारद उवाच । ब्रह्मन् विधे प्रजानाथ महाप्राज्ञ कृपाकर । श्रावितं शंकरयशस्सतीशंकरयोः शुभम्

Transliteration

nārada uvāca | brahman vidhe prajānātha mahāprājña kṛpākara | śrāvitaṃ śaṃkarayaśassatīśaṃkarayoḥ śubham

Translation

നാരദൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ ബ്രഹ്മൻ, ഹേ വിധേ, ഹേ പ്രജാനാഥ, മഹാപ്രാജ്ഞ കൃപാകരാ! ശങ്കരന്റെ പവിത്ര യശസ്സും സതി-ശങ്കരന്മാരുടെ ശുഭചരിതവും എനിക്ക് ശ്രവിപ്പിക്കണമേ।

Word by Word

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (Brahmā)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• विधे: O Creator (Vidhe)
• विधे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhātr/vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• प्रजानाथ: O Lord of creatures
• प्रजानाथ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā-nātha (प्रातिपदिक); prajā (प्रातिपदिक) + nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• महाप्राज्ञ: O greatly wise one
• महाप्राज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-prājña (प्रातिपदिक); mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + prājña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); adjective addressing Brahmā

• कृपाकर: O compassionate one
• कृपाकर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛpā-kara (प्रातिपदिक); kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• श्रावितम्: has been narrated / made heard
• श्रावितम्: Kriyā (क्रियापद-भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śrāvita (कृदन्त; श्रु धातु, णिच् causative)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); used predicatively: 'has been caused to be heard / has been narrated'

• शंकर-यशः: the glory of Śaṅkara
• शंकर-यशः: Karma (कर्म/that which is narrated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक) + yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); subject complement with śrāvitaṃ

• सती-शंकरयोः: of Satī and Śaṅkara
• सती-शंकरयोः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satī (प्रातिपदिक) + śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); 'of Satī and Śaṅkara'

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies śaṃkarayaśaḥ

Speaker

Narada

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A narrative hinge: Nārada requests Brahmā to recount Śaṅkara’s glory and the auspicious account of Satī-Śaṅkara; no specific Jyotirliṅga is invoked here.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Brahma
• Narada
• Sati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śravaṇa (devotional listening) to Śiva-kathā—hearing the auspicious glory of Śaṅkara and the sacred Satī–Śiva narrative, which purifies the mind and strengthens bhakti toward Pati (the Lord) in Shaiva tradition.

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

By requesting the ‘glory of Śaṅkara’ and the divine līlā of Satī and Śiva, the verse orients the devotee to Saguna Śiva—Śiva known through name, fame, and sacred stories—supporting reverent worship including Linga-pūjā grounded in devotion and remembrance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is regular śravaṇa and kīrtana of Śiva’s names and deeds—listening to and reciting Śiva Purāṇa accounts—optionally paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a focused devotional discipline.