Shloka 5

Devīkṛta-praśna-varṇana (Description of the Goddess’s Questions) / देवीकृतप्रश्नवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

तस्माद्वक्ष्यामि युष्माकमितिहासम्पुरातनम् । उमामहेशसम्वादरूपमद्भुतमास्तिकाः

Transliteration

tasmādvakṣyāmi yuṣmākamitihāsampurātanam | umāmaheśasamvādarūpamadbhutamāstikāḥ

Translation

కాబట్టి, హే ఆస్తికులారా, నేను మీకు ఒక ప్రాచీన పవిత్ర ఇతిహాసాన్ని చెప్పుదును—ఉమా-మహేశుల సంభాషణరూపంగా అది అద్భుతమైనది।

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/cause-therefore)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-शब्दः (ablatival adverbial usage; from that/therefore)

• वक्ष्यामि: I shall tell
• वक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/लृट्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• युष्माकम्: for you; of you
• युष्माकम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient; “for you”)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन

• इतिहासम्: a legend; history
• इतिहासम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतिहास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• पुरातनम्: ancient
• पुरातनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying इतिहासम्)

• उमा-महेश-संवाद-रूपम्: in the form of the dialogue of Umā and Maheśa
• उमा-महेश-संवाद-रूपम्: Karma (कर्म/object; apposition to इतिहासम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा (प्रातिपदिक) + महेश (प्रातिपदिक) + संवाद (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—उमामहेशसंवादरूप (having the form of Umā–Maheśa dialogue)

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful; marvelous
• अद्भुतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying इतिहासम्/रूपम्)

• आस्तिकाः: O believers; O pious ones
• आस्तिकाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आस्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It announces a transmission of liberating wisdom through the Umā–Maheśa dialogue, indicating that devotion and right understanding arise by hearing Śiva’s teachings in a sacred narrative form.

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

By framing the teaching as a dialogue with Maheśa, it points to Saguna Śiva—Śiva who graciously speaks and guides—whose worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā) is supported by śravaṇa (hearing) and reverent contemplation of His words.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa and manana—devout listening to Śiva-kathā and reflecting on it—often paired in Shaiva tradition with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a focused meditative support.