Shloka 39

संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇanam) — “Narration of Sandhyā’s Austerity and Encounter with Śiva”

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्यश्शंकरो भक्तवत्सलः । उवाच सुप्रसन्नात्मा निष्पापायास्तयेरिते

Transliteration

brahmovāca | iti śrutvā vacastasyaśśaṃkaro bhaktavatsalaḥ | uvāca suprasannātmā niṣpāpāyāstayerite

Translation

బ్రహ్ముడు పలికెను—ఆమె మాటలు విని భక్తవత్సలుడైన శంకరుడు పరమ ప్రసన్న హృదయంతో, ఆ నిష్పాపినీ వాక్యానికి ప్రతిగా పలికెను।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: कर्ता (Speaker/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; quotative particle

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); ‘having heard’

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him/of that (person)
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; genitive pronoun

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• भक्तवत्सलः: affectionate to devotees
• भक्तवत्सलः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः (भक्तेषु वत्सलः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुप्रसन्नात्मा: one whose mind was very pleased
• सुप्रसन्नात्मा: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय-उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सुप्रसन्नः आत्मा यस्य)

• निष्पापायाः: to the sinless (woman)
• निष्पापायाः: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन; dative (to/for)

• तया: by her
• तया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental pronoun

• ईरिते: when (it was) spoken/uttered
• ईरिते: अधिकरण (Locative absolute/सप्तमी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर्/ईरय् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle) ‘ईरित’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative absolute sense with ‘तया’ (तया ईरिते)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Bhaktavatsala—His grace is stirred by sincere devotion, and He responds with a tranquil, compassionate heart, emphasizing divine anugraha (grace) as central to spiritual uplift.

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

The verse presents Śiva in a personal (saguṇa) mode—listening and replying—supporting the Purāṇic teaching that Linga worship and heartfelt prayer invite Śiva’s accessible, responsive presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is bhakti-driven upāsanā: approach Śiva with purity and sincerity—such as japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a calm mind—trusting in His compassionate response.