Shloka 1

पुराणविदः महिमा तथा अध्ययन-अध्यापन-दानफलम्

The Glory of the Purāṇa-Knower and the Fruits of Study, Teaching, and Giving

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तपस्तपति योऽरण्ये वन्यमूलफलाशनः । योऽधीते ऋचमेकां हि फलं स्यात्तत्समं मुने

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | tapastapati yo'raṇye vanyamūlaphalāśanaḥ | yo'dhīte ṛcamekāṃ hi phalaṃ syāttatsamaṃ mune

Translation

Sanatkumāra said: O sage, the fruit obtained by one who performs austerities in the forest, living on wild roots and fruits, is equal to the fruit obtained by one who studies even a single Vedic ṛc (hymn).

Word by Word

• sanatkumāraḥ: Sanatkumāra
• sanatkumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanat + kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्/perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथम), Singular

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (तपस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of tapati

• tapati: performs (heats/practises)
• tapati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tap (तप् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्/present), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथम), Singular

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun

• araṇye: in the forest
• araṇye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: araṇya (अरण्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• vanya: wild/forest
• vanya: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vanya (वन्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, used as adjective in compound; ‘forest-born’

• mūla: roots
• mūla: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (मूल प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; member of compound

• phala: fruits
• phala: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (फल प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; member of compound

• āśanaḥ: eater (subsisting on)
• āśanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśana (आशन प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘one whose eating is…’ (upapada-tatpuruṣa)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun

• adhīte: studies/recites
• adhīte: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi + i (इ धातु) / adhi-√i ‘to study’
• Form: Laṭ (लट्/present), Ātmanepada, 3rd person (प्रथम), Singular

• ṛcam: a ṛk-verse
• ṛcam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛc (ऋच् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ekām: one
• ekām: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (एक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with ṛcam

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (emphasis/indeed)

• phalam: the fruit (result)
• phalam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (फल प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• syāt: would be
• syāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Optative: Vidhiliṅ (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथम), Singular

• tat: that
• tat: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; used adjectivally with samam

• samam: equal
• samam: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/predicative complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (सम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective with phalam

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (मुनि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It teaches that inner discipline is not limited to harsh forest-austerities; even sincere scriptural study (a single ṛc) can yield comparable spiritual merit, preparing the seeker for Shaiva knowledge and liberation.

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

By valuing Vedic recitation and understanding, the verse supports orthodox Shaiva worship where mantra, hymn, and right knowledge accompany Saguna devotion to Shiva (including Linga-upasana), making worship grounded in śāstra.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Daily recitation and study of a chosen sacred hymn/mantra with faith and discipline—used alongside Shaiva practices like japa (e.g., Panchakshara) and regular worship—are implied as accessible, merit-giving sadhana.