Shloka 3

शिवमायाप्रभाववर्णनम्

Description of the Power/Effects of Śiva’s Māyā

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । एवमेव गुरुर्व्यासः पृष्टवान्मेऽजसंभवम् । सनत्कुमारं सर्वज्ञं शिवभक्तं मुनीश्वरम्

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | evameva gururvyāsaḥ pṛṣṭavānme'jasaṃbhavam | sanatkumāraṃ sarvajñaṃ śivabhaktaṃ munīśvaram

Translation

സൂതൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഇതേവിധം എന്റെ ഗുരു വ്യാസൻ എന്നെയും, അജസംഭവനായ (ബ്രഹ്മാവിനെയും), സർവ്വജ്ഞനും ശിവഭക്തനുമായ മുനീശ്വരൻ സനത്കുമാരനെയും ചോദ്യം ചെയ്തിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• गुरुः: the teacher
• गुरुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; गुरुः इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण (apposition)

• पृष्टवान्: asked
• पृष्टवान्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु) + क्तवतु-प्रत्यय (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्तवतु-कृदन्त (past active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग

• मे: of me / my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive) एकवचन; एन्क्लिटिक रूप

• अजसम्भवम्: Ajasambhava (Brahmā, the self-born)
• अजसम्भवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: अजस्य सम्भवः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे कर्मपद (object of asking)

• सनत्कुमारम्: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारम्: Karma (कर्म/सम्बोधित)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत् (प्रातिपदिक) + कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सनत् कुमारः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अजसम्भवम् इत्यस्य विशेष्य/सम्बोधन-प्राय (addressed person)

• सर्वज्ञम्: all-knowing
• सर्वज्ञम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वं जानाति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सनत्कुमारम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• शिवभक्तम्: devotee of Śiva
• शिवभक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शिवस्य भक्तः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सनत्कुमारम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• मुनीश्वरम्: lord of sages
• मुनीश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/सम्बोधित)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मुनीनां ईश्वरः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सनत्कुमारम् इत्यस्य उपाधि

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Brahma
• Sanatkumara
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes the authority of the teaching through a lineage of realized speakers—Vyāsa, Brahmā, and Sanatkumāra—highlighting that Śiva-bhakti and right knowledge are transmitted through authentic inquiry and guru-guided revelation.

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

By naming Sanatkumāra as a ‘Śiva-bhakta’ and ‘all-knowing,’ the verse frames later instructions on Saguna Śiva worship (including Liṅga-devotion) as grounded in realized devotion and scriptural testimony rather than mere opinion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa (listening) and praśna (reverent questioning) in a guru-disciple setting—preparing the seeker for disciplined Śiva-upāsanā such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplative study.