Shloka 1

दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas

Devanagari script

ऋषय ऊचुः । धन्योऽसि कृतकृत्योऽसि जीवितं सफलं तव । यच्छ्रावयसि नस्तात महेश्वरकथां शुभाम्

Transliteration

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | dhanyo'si kṛtakṛtyo'si jīvitaṃ saphalaṃ tava | yacchrāvayasi nastāta maheśvarakathāṃ śubhām

Translation

The sages said: “Blessed are you; your duties have found fulfillment, and your life is truly fruitful—because, dear one, you make us hear this auspicious sacred account of Maheśvara (Lord Śiva).”

Word by Word

• ऋषयः: the sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया/verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• धन्यः: fortunate/blessed
• धन्यः: Predicative (विधेय/subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• असि: you are
• असि: Kriya (क्रिया/copula)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कृतकृत्यः: one who has fulfilled his duty
• कृतकृत्यः: Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (√कृ + क्त) + कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (कृतं कृत्यं येन सः)

• असि: you are
• असि: Kriya (क्रिया/copula)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• जीवितम्: life
• जीवितम्: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक; √जीव् + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सफलम्: fruitful
• सफलम्: Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सफल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तव: of yours
• तव: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• यत्: which/that (fact that)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative)

• श्रावयसि: you cause (us) to hear / you recite
• श्रावयसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• नः: to us/for us
• नः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी/षष्ठी, बहुवचन (enclitic)

• तात: O dear one
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• महेश्वरकथाम्: the story of Maheśvara
• महेश्वरकथाम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (महेश्वरस्य कथा)

• शुभाम्: auspicious
• शुभाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

The sages (ṛṣis) of Naimiṣāraṇya

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Maheśvara)

FAQs

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

It declares that the most fruitful life is one devoted to transmitting Śiva-kathā; in Shaiva Siddhanta, such śravaṇa (devout hearing) purifies the pashu (bound soul) and turns the mind toward Pati (Śiva), making one’s life “kṛtakṛtya” (fulfilled).

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

By praising the recitation of Maheśvara’s auspicious narrative, it supports Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva through his names, deeds, and sacred forms (including the Liṅga), where hearing precedes remembrance, worship, and pilgrimage themes central to the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa of Śiva-kathā—listening to or reciting Shiva Purana regularly; as a practical takeaway, pair the hearing with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and a simple Liṅga-upacāra (water offering) to stabilize devotion.