Shloka 1

देवस्तुतिः (Deva-stuti) — “Hymn of the Devas / Divine Praise”

Devanagari script

नारद उवाच । विधे प्राज्ञ महाधीमन्वद मे वदतां वर । ततः परं किमभवच्चरितं विष्णुसद्गुरो

Transliteration

nārada uvāca | vidhe prājña mahādhīmanvada me vadatāṃ vara | tataḥ paraṃ kimabhavaccaritaṃ viṣṇusadguro

Translation

ନାରଦ କହିଲେ—ହେ ବିଧାତା! ହେ ପ୍ରାଜ୍ଞ, ମହାଧୀମାନ, ବକ୍ତାମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ! ମୋତେ କୁହ—ତାପରେ ବିଷ୍ଣୁ ସଦ୍ଗୁରୁଙ୍କ ସତ୍ୟ ମାର୍ଗଦର୍ଶନରେ ସେହି ପବିତ୍ର ଚରିତରେ ଆଉ କ’ଣ ଘଟିଲା?

Word by Word

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• विधे: O Creator (Brahmā)
• विधे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि/विधातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन (singular)

• प्राज्ञ: O wise one
• प्राज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन (singular)

• महाधीमन्: O great-minded one
• महाधीमन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाधीमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: महती धीः यस्य (of great intellect); पुंलिङ्ग (masc), सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन (singular)

• वद: tell/speak
• वद: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular)

• मे: to me / for me
• मे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उभयलिङ्ग (pronoun), चतुर्थी/षष्ठी (dat/gen), एकवचन (singular)

• वदताम्: let (them) speak / of speakers
• वदताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया) / Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural) — ‘let them speak’ (idiomatically in ‘वदतां वर’: best among speakers)

• वर: O best (one)
• वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन (singular)

• ततः: thereafter; then
• ततः: Apādāna (अपादान) / Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

• परम्: next; further
• परम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverbial accusative): ‘further/next’

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (nom/acc), एकवचन (singular)

• अभवत्: happened; became
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• चरितम्: deed; account; story
• चरितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (√चर् + क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (nom/acc), एकवचन (singular)

• विष्णु-सद्गुरो: O true guru of Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-सद्गुरो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + सत्-गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: विष्णोः सद्गुरुः (true guru of Viṣṇu / revered guru named thus); पुंलिङ्ग (masc), सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Nārada

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights śravaṇa (devout listening) and humble inquiry as a primary doorway to grace—Nārada seeks the next stage of the sacred narrative from Brahmā, showing that right knowledge arises through proper transmission in the Shaiva tradition.

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

Though the verse is a question rather than a ritual instruction, it frames the Purāṇic method: hearing the Lord’s līlā and teachings prepares the mind for Saguna worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā) and gradually matures devotion toward the highest understanding of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is attentive listening and recitation of sacred narration (śravaṇa–kīrtana) in a guru-guided setting, which complements mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī) and daily Śiva-smaraṇa.