Shloka 15

Śravaṇa–Kīrtana–Manana: Definitions and Hierarchy of Śaiva Sādhanā (श्रवणकीर्तनमनन-निरूपणम्)

Devanagari script

इत्थं कुमारो भगवान्व्यासेन मुनिनार्थितः । समर्थः प्राह विप्रेंद्रा निश्चयं मुक्तिकारणम्

Transliteration

itthaṃ kumāro bhagavānvyāsena muninārthitaḥ | samarthaḥ prāha vipreṃdrā niścayaṃ muktikāraṇam

Translation

So sprach der erhabene Kumāra (Kumāra), als ihn der Weise Vyāsa inständig bat, in voller Befähigung zu den vornehmsten Brāhmaṇas die entscheidende Wahrheit über die Ursache der Befreiung (mokṣa).

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/in this manner’)

• कुमारः: Kumāra (Skanda)
• कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्ता

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कुमारः)

• व्यासेन: by Vyāsa
• व्यासेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करणम्/कर्तृ-निर्देशः (agent/instrument)

• मुनिना: by the sage
• मुनिना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करणम्/कर्तृ-निर्देशः

• अर्थितः: having been requested
• अर्थितः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मणि भावः—‘requested’

• समर्थः: capable
• समर्थः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कुमारः)

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• विप्र-इन्द्राः: O best of Brahmins
• विप्र-इन्द्राः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (विप्राणाम् इन्द्राः)

• निश्चयम्: the certainty / conclusion
• निश्चयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म (प्राह—said/declared)

• मुक्तिकारणम्: the cause of liberation
• मुक्तिकारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मुक्तेः कारणम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Vyasa

FAQs

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

It marks a pivotal transition: Sanatkumāra is about to state the settled Shaiva conclusion on what truly causes mokṣa, implying liberation is not accidental but grounded in a definitive spiritual means.

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

In the Vidyeśvara context, the coming “decisive truth” is typically presented through Shiva-upāsanā (often Linga-centered), where devotion and right knowledge mature into Shiva’s grace—the effective cause of liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

While this specific line does not name a practice, it introduces an instruction section that in this Samhitā commonly culminates in Shaiva sādhanā—japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), Linga worship, and allied disciplines as supports for mokṣa.