Sloka 3
3.1. IAST Text
śṛtvātū pārvatīvācaṁ madhusiktaṁ
śrutipriyaṁ samuvāca mahādevo viśvakalyāḷaṇa kārakaḥ.
3.2. Word-by-Word Meaning & Explanation
- śṛtvātū
- śrutvā: “having heard”
- Explanation: The form emphasizes the act of listening. It indicates that the divine dialogue is initiated through careful and attentive hearing.
- pārvatīvācaṁ
- pārvatī-vācam: “the words of Parvatī.”
- Explanation: Establishes the source of the inquiry—the sacred utterances of the goddess Parvatī.
- madhusiktaṁ
- madhu: “honey”
- siktaṁ: “smeared with” or “like”
- Combined Meaning: “Sweet as honey.”
- Explanation: Conveys that her words possess a pleasing, nectar-like quality, both aesthetically and spiritually.
- śrutipriyaṁ
- śruti: “that which is heard” (referring to sacred sound or scripture)
- priyaṁ: “dear” or “pleasing”
- Combined Meaning: “Beloved to the ear.”
- Explanation: Suggests that her speech is not only profound but also deeply attractive and spiritually uplifting.
- samuvāca
- Meaning: “thus spoke” or “answered.”
- Explanation: Marks the beginning of Mahādeva’s response, indicating that he is now addressing the inquiry.
- mahādevo
- Meaning: “Great God.”
- Explanation: Reasserts the divine identity of the speaker, affirming his supreme nature.
- viśvakalyāḷaṇa
- viśva: “universe”
- kalyāḷaṇa: “bestower of auspiciousness”
- Combined Meaning: “The one who confers universal auspiciousness.”
- Explanation: Emphasizes his role as the cosmic benefactor who ensures the welfare and auspiciousness of all creation.
- kārakaḥ
- Meaning: “the cause” or “the doer.”
- Explanation: Indicates that he is the prime mover behind all auspicious activities in the cosmos.
3.3. Overall Meaning of the Sloka
Having heard the sweet, beloved words of Parvatī, Mahādeva—whose activity confers universal auspiciousness—responded with divine insight.
3.4. Detailed Commentary
This sloka illustrates the sacred exchange between the divine teacher and the devoted disciple:
- Initiation Through Listening:
The sloka begins with śṛtvātū (“having heard”), emphasizing that the transmission of esoteric knowledge starts with a receptive and attentive mind. In Tantric and Vedic traditions, the act of listening (śruti) is itself a sacred practice that prepares the heart and mind to receive profound wisdom. - The Nectar-like Quality of Divine Speech:
The description of Parvatī’s words as madhusiktaṁ (“sweet as honey”) and śrutipriyaṁ (“beloved to the ear”) not only attests to their aesthetic beauty but also signifies their transformative power. Such imagery suggests that the sacred words have an inherent capacity to uplift the soul and dissolve the ordinary confines of mundane thought. - Response of the Supreme Lord:
When Mahādeva responds with samuvāca, he does so as the great cosmic ruler (mahādevo), who is responsible for bestowing auspiciousness (viśvakalyāḷaṇa) throughout the universe. The term kārakaḥ underscores his active role as the prime mover behind all that is beneficial and auspicious. - Establishing the Dialogue’s Framework:
This sacred dialogue is not merely a ritual exchange but a dynamic process of inner transformation. Parvatī’s sincere, sweet inquiry and Mahādeva’s wise, assured response set the stage for a deeper transmission of esoteric wisdom. In the Tantric tradition, such a teacher–disciple interaction is crucial; it is through this intimate and devoted communication that hidden spiritual truths are revealed and internalized.
Core Message:
Sloka 3 encapsulates the idea that the revelation of hidden, transformative wisdom begins with the earnest, loving inquiry of the devotee and is received from the divine teacher in the form of sweet, uplifting words. It highlights the importance of receptive listening and the intimate, reciprocal relationship between the teacher and disciple, both of which are essential for the transmission of the esoteric teachings that underpin the entire Gayatri Manjarī.