Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

तस्माद्वक्ष्यामि युष्माकमितिहासम्पुरातनम् । उमामहेशसम्वादरूपमद्भुतमास्तिकाः

Transliteration

tasmādvakṣyāmi yuṣmākamitihāsampurātanam | umāmaheśasamvādarūpamadbhutamāstikāḥ

Translation

Vì thế, hỡi những người có lòng tin, ta sẽ thuật cho các vị một thánh tích cổ xưa—kỳ diệu thay—được trình bày dưới hình thức đối thoại giữa Umā (Pārvatī) và Maheśa (Śiva).

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

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: teaching

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.