Shloka 20

मङ्गलपत्रिकाग्रहणम् — Reception of the Auspicious Marriage Invitation

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्तस्तु त्वया शम्भुश्शंकरो भक्तवत्सलः । प्रत्युवाच प्रसन्नात्मा सादरं त्वां मुनीश्वर

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ityuktastu tvayā śambhuśśaṃkaro bhaktavatsalaḥ | pratyuvāca prasannātmā sādaraṃ tvāṃ munīśvara

Translation

బ్రహ్మ పలికెను—నీవు ఇలా చెప్పినప్పుడు భక్తవత్సలుడైన శంభు-శంకరుడు ప్రసన్నాత్మతో, ఓ మునీశ్వరా, నిన్ను ఆదరంతో ప్రత్యుత్తరం పలికెను।

Word by Word

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, quotative particle (इति-निपात; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक)

• uktaḥ: having been spoken to
• uktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; कर्मणि प्रयोगे)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘having been addressed/said to’

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, particle (निपात)

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śambhuḥ: Śambhu
• śambhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śaṃkaraḥ: Śaṅkara
• śaṃkaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to śambhuḥ

• bhakta-vatsalaḥ: affectionate to devotees
• bhakta-vatsalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √bhaj) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha; ‘bhaktānāṃ vatsalaḥ’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• pratyuvāca: replied
• pratyuvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; ‘replied’

• prasanna-ātmā: with a serene self
• prasanna-ātmā: Karta (कर्ता; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √sad with pra) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (Karmadharaya; ‘prasannaḥ ātmā yasya’/‘prasanna-ātmā’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sādaram: respectfully
• sādaram: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa-ādara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (adverbial accusative), ‘with respect’

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• munīśvara: O lord of sages
• munīśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha; ‘munīnām īśvaraḥ’), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as bhaktavatsala—responding to sincere approach with calm grace—showing that devotion and reverent inquiry draw the Lord’s compassionate guidance, a key Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on Pati’s anugraha (divine grace).

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

By naming Śiva as Śambhu and Śaṅkara and portraying Him as personally responding, the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching the Lord as a compassionate, responsive deity, which underlies Linga worship as a living presence receiving prayer and granting grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is sādarabhāva—respectful devotion in prayer: approach Śiva with humility, recite His names (e.g., Śambhu/Śaṅkara) or the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and listen inwardly for guidance with a शांत (serene) mind.