Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 35

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Meets Lord Śiva: Devotee as Living Tīrtha and the Lord’s Māyā

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच इत्यर्चितोऽभिष्टुतश्च मुनिना सूक्तया गिरा । तमाह भगवाञ्छर्व: शर्वया चाभिनन्दित: ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

sūta uvāca ity arcito ’bhiṣṭutaś ca muninā sūktayā girā tam āha bhagavāñ charvaḥ śarvayā cābhinanditaḥ

Translation

苏多说：圣者马尔坎德亚以善妙辞句礼敬赞颂之后，薄伽梵舍尔瓦（湿婆）在其配偶舍尔瓦妮的鼓励下，对他如此答道。

Synonyms

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• अर्चितः: having been worshipped
• अर्चितः: Karta (कर्ता; of following main verb as described)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), from √अर्च्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अभिष्टुतः: having been praised
• अभिष्टुतः: Karta (कर्ता; described)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-स्तु (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), from √स्तु with उपसर्ग अभि; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मुनिना: by the sage
• मुनिना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• सूक्तया: well-spoken
• सूक्तया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; qualifying ‘गिरा’

• गिरा: with speech/words
• गिरा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• आह: said
• आह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/आह (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; √अह् ‘to say’

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• शर्वः: Śarva (Śiva)
• शर्वः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to ‘भगवान्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; name of Śiva

• शर्वया: by Śarvā (Pārvatī)
• शर्वया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; (Pārvatī)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अभिनन्दितः: having been welcomed/approved
• अभिनन्दितः: Karta (कर्ता; described)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-नन्द् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), from √नन्द् with उपसर्ग अभि; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Suta Gosvami
• Lord Shiva (Sarva)
• Parvati (Sarva/Sharva)
• the sage (muni)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pleasing Lord Shiva through prayer?

This verse shows that Lord Śiva is pleased when a devotee or sage worships him and offers heartfelt, well-spoken praises; such sincere stuti invites his gracious response.

Why did Lord Shiva speak after being praised by the sage?

Because the sage’s worship and eloquent glorification satisfied Lord Śiva, and with Pārvatī’s approving encouragement, Śiva responded by speaking—indicating acceptance of the devotee’s devotion.

Practical application of devotional praise (stuti) in modern life?

Offer focused, sincere prayers with gratitude and humility; disciplined, heartfelt glorification deepens devotion and invites clarity and guidance in one’s spiritual practice.