Shloka 14

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

Prelude to Detailed Narrative

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । शृणु तात परप्रीत्या मुनिभिस्सह नारद । सुतवर्य महाप्राज्ञ चरितं शशिमौलिनः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | śṛṇu tāta paraprītyā munibhissaha nārada | sutavarya mahāprājña caritaṃ śaśimaulinaḥ

Translation

బ్రహ్ముడు పలికెను—ఓ తాత నారదా, మునులతో కలిసి పరమ ప్రీతితో వినుము. ఓ సూతశ్రేష్ఠా, ఓ మహాప్రాజ్ఞా, శశిమౌళి (శివుని) పవిత్ర చరిత్రను వినుము।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: क्रिया (Verb/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• तात: dear son
• तात: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative), पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन

• परप्रीत्या: with great affection
• परप्रीत्या: करण (Karaṇa/Manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('with great/paramount affection'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• मुनिभिः: with sages
• मुनिभिः: सहकारक/सहयोग (Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: सम्बन्ध (Associative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable: 'with')

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative), पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन

• सुतवर्य: O best of sons
• सुतवर्य: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत + वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थ ('best of sons'); सम्बोधन, पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन

• महाप्राज्ञ: O very wise one
• महाप्राज्ञ: सम्बोधन-विशेषण (Vocative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय ('greatly wise'); सम्बोधन, पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन; qualifies addressed person

• चरितम्: deed(s), story, conduct
• चरितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √चर् + क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त-नपुंसकसंज्ञक, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शशिमौलिनः: of the moon-crested one (Śiva)
• शशिमौलिनः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशि + मौलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('whose crest is the moon' as epithet); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Narada
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes śravaṇa (devotional listening) of Śiva’s carita as a sacred means of inner purification and grace, encouraging the seeker—along with the community of sages—to receive Śiva’s story with heartfelt joy and reverence.

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

By praising Śiva as “Śaśimauli” (a personal, iconic form), the verse points to Saguna devotion—approaching the transcendent Pati through divine attributes and narratives, which then mature into steadiness in worship (including Liṅga-bhakti).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is disciplined śravaṇa and manana—hearing and reflecting on Śiva-kathā with devotion in a sat-saṅga setting; this can be paired with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as a supportive daily practice.