Shloka 2

संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇana) — “Account of Sandhyā’s Story”

Devanagari script

नारद उवाच । ब्रह्मन् विधे महाभाग विष्णुशिष्य महामते । अद्भुता कथिता लीला त्वया च शशिमौलिनः

Transliteration

nārada uvāca | brahman vidhe mahābhāga viṣṇuśiṣya mahāmate | adbhutā kathitā līlā tvayā ca śaśimaulinaḥ

Translation

نارد نے کہا— اے برہمن! اے وِدھے (خالق)! اے نہایت بختور! اے وِشنو کے شاگرد، اے عظیم دانا! آپ نے چندرَمَولی بھگوان شِو کی عجیب و غریب لیلا بیان کی ہے۔

Word by Word

• nāradaḥ: Nārada
• nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā-vibhakti, Eka-vacana

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Eka-vacana, Parasmaipada

• brahman: O Brahman (O Brahmā)
• brahman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन), Eka-vacana

• vidhe: O Creator
• vidhe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhātṛ/vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Eka-vacana; epithet of Brahmā (विधे)

• mahābhāga: O greatly fortunate one
• mahābhāga: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Eka-vacana; Karmadhāraya: mahān bhāgaḥ yasya (महाभाग)

• viṣṇuśiṣya: O disciple of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuśiṣya: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu + śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Eka-vacana; Tatpuruṣa: viṣṇoḥ śiṣyaḥ (विष्णोः शिष्यः)

• mahāmate: O great-minded one
• mahāmate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Eka-vacana; Karmadhāraya: mahā matiḥ yasya (महामते)

• adbhutā: wonderful
• adbhutā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā-vibhakti, Eka-vacana; agrees with līlā

• kathitā: told / narrated
• kathitā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta; Past passive participle (क्त), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; agrees with līlā

• līlā: divine play
• līlā: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: līlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā-vibhakti, Eka-vacana

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्ता/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun/सर्वनाम), Tṛtīyā-vibhakti (Instrumental), Eka-vacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• śaśimaulinaḥ: of the moon-crested one (Śiva)
• śaśimaulinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaśi + maulin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (Genitive/षष्ठी), Eka-vacana; Bahuvrīhi: śaśiḥ mauliḥ yasya saḥ (शशिमौलिः)

Speaker

Narada

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the sanctity of śravaṇa (devotional hearing): Nārada honors Brahmā for narrating Śiva’s līlā, implying that attentive listening to Śiva-kathā purifies the mind and turns it toward Pati (Śiva) as the supreme refuge.

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

By calling Śiva “Śaśimauli” (Moon-crested), the verse points to Saguna Śiva—worshipped with attributes and forms (including the Liṅga). Remembering and praising His līlās supports devotional contemplation that naturally culminates in Liṅga-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is regular śiva-kathā-śravaṇa and smaraṇa (hearing and remembrance). As a practical takeaway, one may pair this with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while reflecting on Śiva as Śaśimauli.