Shloka 10

गुरुत्व-परम्परा-शौचविधि-प्रश्नः

Questions on Guruhood, Lineage, and Purificatory Discipline

Devanagari script

इति श्रुत्वा कार्तिकेयो वामदेववचः स्मरन् । शिवं शिवां च मनसा व्याचष्टुमुपचक्रमे

Transliteration

iti śrutvā kārtikeyo vāmadevavacaḥ smaran | śivaṃ śivāṃ ca manasā vyācaṣṭumupacakrame

Translation

闻此，迦尔蒂凯亚忆念瓦摩提婆之言，遂于心中开始阐明关于湿婆（Śiva）与湿婆妃（Śivā）的真实旨趣。

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha (वाक्यार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपातः (quotative particle)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having heard)

• कार्तिकेयः: Kārtikeya
• कार्तिकेयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिकेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (nominative sg)

• वामदेव-वचः: Vāmadeva’s words
• वामदेव-वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (the words of Vāmadeva)

• स्मरन्: remembering
• स्मरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (remembering)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (accusative sg)

• शिवाम्: Śivā (Pārvatī)
• शिवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (accusative sg)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपातः (and)

• मनसा: with (his) mind
• मनसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन (instrumental sg)

• व्याचष्टुम्: to explain
• व्याचष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + आ + चक्ष् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थ (to explain/describe)

• उपचक्रमे: began, undertook
• उपचक्रमे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम् (he began/undertook)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights that right understanding of Śiva together with Śivā (Śakti) is transmitted through authoritative teachers (Vāmadeva → Kārttikeya), supporting Siddhānta’s emphasis on revealed doctrine.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Kartikeya
• Vamadeva

FAQs

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

It highlights that true understanding of the Supreme (Śiva) is inseparable from His power (Śivā/Śakti), and that right knowledge arises from śruti-like instruction (Vāmadeva’s teaching) combined with inward contemplation.

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

By pointing to Śiva together with Śivā, the verse supports Saguna worship where the Lord is approached with attributes and divine energy—commonly through the Śiva-liṅga accompanied by reverence for Śakti as the Lord’s manifest potency.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests manasa-japa and inward dhyāna: mentally recollecting the guru’s instruction and contemplating Śiva-Śakti unity—often supported in Shaiva practice by Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with steady meditation.