Shloka 8

दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas

Devanagari script

इति पृष्टस्तदा तैस्तु हरिणा तेन वै तदा । तदहं कथयाम्यद्य शृण्वतां पापहारकम्

Transliteration

iti pṛṣṭastadā taistu hariṇā tena vai tadā | tadahaṃ kathayāmyadya śṛṇvatāṃ pāpahārakam

Translation

So wurde ich damals von ihnen—und von Hari (Viṣṇu) zu jener Zeit—befragt; heute will ich es berichten. Hört: Dies ist eine Erzählung, die den Hörenden die Sünde nimmt.

Word by Word

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

• पृष्टः: (he) having been asked
• पृष्टः: Karta (कर्ता; कर्मणि-वाक्ये विषयः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √प्रच्छ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (asked)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (then)

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (indeed/but)

• हरिणा: by Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिणा: Karta (कर्ता; वक्ता/कर्ता-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• तेन: by him / with that
• तेन: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/indeed)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (then)

• तत्: that (matter)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कथयामि: tell / narrate
• कथयामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथ् (धातु) (नामधातु/denominative)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अद्य: now
• अद्य: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (today/now)

• शृण्वताम्: of (you) listeners
• शृण्वताम्: Adhikārin (अधिकारी/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Genitive plural) — ‘of those who are listening’

• पापहारकम्: sin-removing
• पापहारकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप + हारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पापस्य हारकः = remover of sin)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes śravaṇa (hearing) as a purifying upāya: the kathā itself is pāpa-hara, preparing the paśu for Śiva’s anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It affirms the Shaiva teaching that sacred śravaṇa (devout listening) purifies the mind and burns sin, preparing the seeker for Shiva-bhakti and liberation.

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

By praising sin-destroying listening, it supports the devotional path where hearing Shiva’s līlās and tīrtha-glories (such as Jyotirlinga narratives) strengthens faith in Saguna Shiva and inspires worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular śravaṇa of Shiva Purana/Kathā with focused attention—ideally alongside mantra-japa (e.g., the Panchakshara) as a supporting discipline for inner purification.