Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

शिवविहारवर्णनम् (Śivavihāra-varṇana) — “Description of Śiva’s Divine Pastimes/Sojourn”

Devanagari script

इदमाख्यानमनघं रहस्यं परमाद्भुतम् । पापसंतापहरणं सर्वविघ्नविनाशनम्

Transliteration

idamākhyānamanaghaṃ rahasyaṃ paramādbhutam | pāpasaṃtāpaharaṇaṃ sarvavighnavināśanam

Translation

Diese heilige Erzählung ist makellos und tief geheim, höchst wunderbar. Sie nimmt das brennende Leid aus der Sünde hinweg und vernichtet jedes Hindernis.

Word by Word

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying आख्यानम्)

• आख्यानम्: narrative, account
• आख्यानम्: Karma/Pratijna (कर्म/प्रस्ताव्य; as the thing described)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• अनघम्: sinless, faultless
• अनघम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying आख्यानम्)

• रहस्यम्: a secret, mystery
• रहस्यम्: Visheshya-nirdeshana (विशेष्यनिर्देशन/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रहस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणवत् (appositional descriptor of आख्यानम्)

• परम्: supreme, exceedingly
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying अद्भुतम्)

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful, marvelous
• अद्भुतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying आख्यानम्)

• पापसंतापहरणम्: removing the torment of sin
• पापसंतापहरणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप + संताप + हरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पापसंतापस्य हरणम्); विशेषणम् (qualifying आख्यानम्)

• सर्वविघ्नविनाशनम्: destroying all obstacles
• सर्वविघ्नविनाशनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + विघ्न + विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वविघ्नानां विनाशनम्); विशेषणम् (qualifying आख्यानम्)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga locale; the verse characterizes the kathā as rahasya (esoteric) and vighna-vināśinī, a common Purāṇic framing for Śiva-upadeśa.

Significance: Frames obstacles (vighna) and sin-torment (pāpa-saṃtāpa) as forms of pāśa; hearing the kathā is presented as a remedy through Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares the Shiva-centered kathā as a purifying upadeśa: hearing and assimilating it burns away pāpa-saṃtāpa (sin-born inner distress) and clears vighnas, making the seeker fit for Shiva-bhakti and liberation.

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

By praising the transformative power of Shiva-kathā, it supports Saguna Shiva worship—especially devotion to the Liṅga—because śravaṇa (hearing) and smaraṇa (remembrance) of Shiva’s līlā naturally culminate in Liṅga-pūjā and steadfast bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular śravaṇa/pāṭha of the Shiva Purana with faith, followed by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as a practical way to remove obstacles and purify the mind.