Shloka 40

Śiva-jñāna and the Non-dual Vision of a Śiva-maya Universe (शिवज्ञानम्—सर्वं शिवमयम्)

Devanagari script

नारदाय ततः प्रोक्तं तज्ज्ञानं सनकादिभिः । व्यासाय नारदेनोक्तं तेन मह्यं कृपालुना

Transliteration

nāradāya tataḥ proktaṃ tajjñānaṃ sanakādibhiḥ | vyāsāya nāradenoktaṃ tena mahyaṃ kṛpālunā

Translation

Thereafter, that sacred knowledge was taught to Nārada by Sanaka and the other sages. Nārada then taught it to Vyāsa, and that compassionate Vyāsa has taught it to me.

Word by Word

• नारदाय: to Nārada
• नारदाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अपादानार्थक अव्यय (then/from that)

• प्रोक्तम्: was taught/said
• प्रोक्तम्: Karma (कर्म/वर्ण्य-वस्तु)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (spoken/taught)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सनकादिभिः: by Sanaka and others
• सनकादिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनक + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; समास: सनक + आदि (आदि-तत्पुरुष: 'Sanaka and others')

• व्यासाय: to Vyāsa
• व्यासाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नारदेन: by Nārada
• नारदेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उक्तम्: was said/taught
• उक्तम्: Karma (कर्म/वर्ण्य-वस्तु)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मह्यम्: to me
• मह्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• कृपालुना: by the compassionate one
• कृपालुना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृपालु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'तेन')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific sthala narrative; the verse frames a guru-śiṣya paramparā (Sanaka→Nārada→Vyāsa→Sūta) legitimizing the teaching as āgama-sāra and purāṇic upadeśa.

Significance: Śravaṇa (hearing) through authentic lineage is presented as a direct means to Śiva-jñāna and thus to liberation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanaka (Kumara)
• Vyasa

FAQs

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

It establishes the guru-paramparā (authentic lineage) through which Shaiva wisdom is preserved and transmitted, emphasizing that liberating knowledge is received through realized teachers and compassionate instruction.

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

By grounding the teaching in an authoritative lineage, it frames later instructions on Linga worship and Jyotirlinga pilgrimage as śāstra-based and guru-confirmed means to approach Saguna Shiva while moving toward the highest realization of Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa (reverent listening) and study under a qualified guru—receiving mantra, meaning, and discipline properly—before undertaking Shaiva sādhanā such as japa and worship.