Shloka 77

नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा

The Account of Śambhu’s Incarnation that Dispels Doubts Concerning Women

Devanagari script

एतदाख्यानमनघं पवित्रं पावनं महत् । धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां साधनं सर्वकामदम्

Transliteration

etadākhyānamanaghaṃ pavitraṃ pāvanaṃ mahat | dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇāṃ sādhanaṃ sarvakāmadam

Translation

This faultless sacred narrative is pure, greatly purifying, and exalted. It is a means to attain dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa, and it bestows the fulfillment of all rightful desires.

Word by Word

• etat-ākhyānam: this narrative
• etat-ākhyānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ākhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विषय/कर्तृस्थानी (as subject)

• anagham: sinless, faultless
• anagham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anagha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (to ākhyānam)

• pavitram: pure, sacred
• pavitram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pavitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• pāvanam: purifying
• pāvanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• mahat: great
• mahat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• dharma-artha-kāma-mokṣāṇām: of dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa
• dharma-artha-kāma-mokṣāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्ध्वन्द्व-समास (copulative); पुंलिङ्ग (समाहार/प्राधान्ये), षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• sādhanam: means, instrument
• sādhanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• sarva-kāma-dam: granting all desires
• sarva-kāma-dam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + da (√dā/√dā? ‘to give’ → -da, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/उपपद: ‘giver of all desires’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (to ākhyānam/sādhanam)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares Shiva-kathā (sacred narration about Shiva) as a powerful purifying sādhana: by hearing, remembering, and internalizing it with devotion, one gains both worldly well-being and the highest goal—mokṣa—through Shiva’s grace.

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

The verse praises the narrative as a means to attain all four human aims; in Shaiva practice this is commonly realized through saguna upāsanā—devotional listening and worship centered on Shiva’s forms such as the Śiva-liṅga—leading the devotee from blessings (bhoga) toward liberation (mokṣa).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Śravaṇa (devout listening/recitation) of Shiva Purana kathā as a regular vrata-like practice; it can be paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” for purification and fulfillment of aims.