Shloka 21

पुराणश्रवणप्रस्तावः

Prologue to the Recitation of the Śaiva Purāṇa

Devanagari script

संक्षिप्य तत्र वः सारं साधनं प्रब्रवीम्यहम् । श्रोत्रेण श्रवणं तस्य वचसा कीर्तनं तथा

Transliteration

saṃkṣipya tatra vaḥ sāraṃ sādhanaṃ prabravīmyaham | śrotreṇa śravaṇaṃ tasya vacasā kīrtanaṃ tathā

Translation

Nun will ich, kurz zusammenfassend, euch das Wesentliche der Übung verkünden: mit den Ohren das Hören auf Ihn; und mit der Rede das besingende Lob (kīrtana) Ihm gegenüber ebenso.

Word by Word

• संक्षिप्य: having summarized
• संक्षिप्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभावः; उपसर्गः सम्-; अर्थः ‘संक्षेपेण कृत्वा’

• तत्र: there/therein
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• वः: to you / of you
• वः: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (Genitive/Dative), बहुवचन; एन्क्लिटिक रूप

• सारम्: essence
• सारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• साधनम्: means/practice
• साधनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• प्रब्रवीमि: I declare/speak forth
• प्रब्रवीमि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः प्र-

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• श्रोत्रेण: by the ear
• श्रोत्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• श्रवणम्: hearing
• श्रवणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him/of that (Lord)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• वचसा: by speech
• वचसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• कीर्तनम्: praise/recitation
• कीर्तनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/उपमानार्थ (adverb: ‘likewise/also’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the essence of sādhana begins with bhakti-based disciplines—śravaṇa (reverent listening to Śiva’s glories and teachings) and kīrtana (verbal glorification). These purify the mind and align the soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati), preparing the ground for deeper worship and liberation.

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

Śravaṇa and kīrtana are primary supports for Saguna Śiva-upāsanā: hearing the greatness of the Liṅga and chanting Śiva’s names and praises naturally leads to heartfelt Liṅga worship, strengthening devotion and steadiness in ritual and contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular listening to Shiva Purana recitation (śravaṇa) and daily chanting/praising Śiva (kīrtana)—especially nāma-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—is implied as a practical takeaway.