Shloka 41

विष्णुरुवाच—एकाक्षर-प्रणव-लिङ्ग-व्याप्ति-शिवस्तोत्रम्

Devanagari script

स याति ब्रह्मणो लोके पापकर्मरतो ऽपि वै तस्माज्जपेत्पठेन्नित्यं श्रावयेद्ब्राह्मणाञ्छुभान्

Transliteration

sa yāti brahmaṇo loke pāpakarmarato 'pi vai tasmājjapetpaṭhennityaṃ śrāvayedbrāhmaṇāñchubhān

Translation

Even one devoted to sinful actions attains the world of Brahmā. Therefore one should daily perform japa and recitation, and cause auspicious Brāhmaṇas to hear it; for such śravaṇa purifies the paśu (bound soul) and loosens the pāśa (bondage) through the grace of Pati, Śiva.

Word by Word

• स (sa): he/that person

• याति (yāti): goes/attains

• ब्रह्मणः (brahmaṇaḥ): of Brahmā

• लोके (loke): in the world/realm

• पापकर्मरतः (pāpa-karmarataḥ): engaged in sinful deeds

• अपि (api): even

• वै (vai): indeed

• तस्मात् (tasmāt): therefore

• जपेत् (japet): should repeat (mantra)/do japa

• पठेत् (paṭhet): should read/recite

• नित्यम् (nityam): daily/constantly

• श्रावयेत् (śrāvayet): should cause to be heard/should have it recited aloud

• ब्राह्मणान् (brāhmaṇān): Brāhmaṇas

• शुभान् (śubhān): auspicious/virtuous

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It links Śaiva devotion to concrete practice: daily japa, pāṭha (recitation), and śravaṇa (hearing). These are presented as purifying acts that uplift even a pāpa-pravṛtta person, making them fit for higher realms and Śiva’s grace.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva-tattva is implied as Pati—the liberating Lord whose grace operates through sacred sound (mantra), recitation, and hearing, dissolving the pāśa that binds the paśu even when moral impurity is present.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-japa, scriptural pāṭha, and śravaṇa (arranging/participating in sacred hearing), which function as daily sādhana aligned with Śaiva purification and the Pāśupata-oriented path of inner cleansing.