Shloka 50

Devanagari script

य इमां शृणुयान्नित्यं महाबलकथां प्रियाम् । त्रिसप्तकुलजैस्सार्द्धं शिवलोके व्रजत्यसौ

Transliteration

ya imāṃ śṛṇuyānnityaṃ mahābalakathāṃ priyām | trisaptakulajaissārddhaṃ śivaloke vrajatyasau

Translation

Whoever listens daily to this beloved account of Mahābala—the great power of Lord Śiva—such a person, together with those born in twenty-one generations of their lineage, attains Śivaloka.

Word by Word

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (relative pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• इमाम्: this
• इमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण (pronominal adjective), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular), ‘कथाम्’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• शृणुयात्: should hear
• शृणुयात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• नित्यम्: daily/always
• नित्यम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषणवत् (used adverbially): ‘always/daily’

• महाबलकथाम्: the story of Mahābala
• महाबलकथाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-bala-kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Mahābala + kathā); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रियाम्: dear, beloved
• प्रियाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular), ‘कथाम्’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• त्रिसप्तकुलजैः: with those born in (his) three-times-seven families (i.e., 21 generations)
• त्रिसप्तकुलजैः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri-sapta-kula-ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (tri + sapta + kula + ja ‘born in families’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सार्धम्: together with
• सार्धम्: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sārdham (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक अव्यय (indeclinable meaning ‘together with’)

• शिवलोके: in Śiva’s world
• शिवलोके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva-loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Śiva + loka); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• व्रजति: goes
• व्रजति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vraj (व्रज् धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• असौ: that person/he
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (demonstrative pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Phalaśruti for śravaṇa: daily listening to the Mahābala-kathā carries the listener (and their lineage) to Śivaloka.

Significance: Elevates śravaṇa-bhakti as an efficacious upāya: not only individual uplift but kula-anugraha (benefit to 21 generations) through Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shivaloka

FAQs

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

It teaches that steady śravaṇa (daily listening) to Śiva’s glorious deeds is itself a powerful bhakti-sādhana, producing uplift not only for the devotee but also for their lineage, culminating in entry to Śivaloka.

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

Kotirudrasaṃhitā emphasizes devotion to Śiva’s accessible, grace-bestowing presence (Saguna Śiva), especially through Jyotirliṅga-mahātmya; hearing these accounts is treated as an act of worship comparable to reverent approach to the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular śravaṇa—daily recitation/listening to Śiva-kathā (especially Jyotirliṅga narratives)—as a consistent devotional observance; it can be paired with simple practices like remembering Śiva and offering mental reverence while listening.