Shloka 18

शिवपुराण-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Śiva Purāṇa) / Śivapurāṇa Māhātmya

Devanagari script

अस्य शैवपुराणस्य कीर्तनश्रवणाद्द्विजाः । फलं वक्तुं न शक्नोमि कार्त्स्न्येन मुनिसत्तमाः

Transliteration

asya śaivapurāṇasya kīrtanaśravaṇāddvijāḥ | phalaṃ vaktuṃ na śaknomi kārtsnyena munisattamāḥ

Translation

O Zweimalgeborene, o beste der Weisen: Durch Rezitation und Hören dieses Śaiva-Purāṇa entsteht ein Verdienst, dessen volle Frucht ich nicht vermag, in Gänze auszusprechen.

Word by Word

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• शैवपुराणस्य: of the Shaiva Purana
• शैवपुराणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक) + पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘शिवसम्बन्धि पुराणम्’)

• कीर्तन-श्रवणात्: from recitation and hearing
• कीर्तन-श्रवणात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्तन (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (‘कीर्तनं च श्रवणं च’)

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे अपि प्रयोगः (address)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• वक्तुम्: to speak
• वक्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), अव्ययभावः

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation)

• शक्नोमि: I am able
• शक्नोमि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शक् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कार्त्स्न्येन: completely/in entirety
• कार्त्स्न्येन: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्त्स्न्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; भाववाचक

• मुनि-सत्तमाः: O best of sages
• मुनि-सत्तमाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘मुनीनां सत्तमाः’)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares that śravaṇa (hearing) and kīrtana (devotional recitation) of the Śiva Purāṇa generate immeasurable puṇya and bhakti, beyond complete verbal description—pointing to Shiva’s boundless grace as the ultimate giver of liberation.

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

By praising hearing and recitation as supremely fruitful, the verse supports Saguna upāsanā—devotion to Lord Śiva with attributes—where scripture-hearing becomes a direct act of worship akin to honoring the Liṅga through praise and remembrance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular śravaṇa and pāṭha (listening and recitation) of the Śiva Purāṇa as a devotional sādhana—ideally accompanied by mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to deepen Shiva-bhakti.