Shloka 17

पुराणविदः महिमा तथा अध्ययन-अध्यापन-दानफलम्

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

Devanagari script

अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य यत्फलं समुदाहृतम् । तत्फलं समावाप्नोति देवाग्रे यो जपं चरेत्

Transliteration

aśvamedhasahasrasya yatphalaṃ samudāhṛtam | tatphalaṃ samāvāpnoti devāgre yo japaṃ caret

Translation

Whatever fruit is proclaimed for performing a thousand Aśvamedha sacrifices—one who undertakes japa before the Deity attains that very same fruit.

Word by Word

• अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य: of a thousand Aśvamedha sacrifices
• अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वमेध (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अश्वमेधानां सहस्रम् / अश्वमेध-सहस्रम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — Genitive singular (of a thousand Aśvamedhas)

• यत्: which
• यत्: विशेषण (Relative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — relative pronoun used adjectivally with फलम्

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• समुदाहृतम्: has been proclaimed
• समुदाहृतम्: क्रिया-विशेषण/विधेय (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उद् + आ + हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — ‘has been declared/mentioned’

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — demonstrative used adjectivally

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: कर्म (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• सम्: fully/together
• सम्: सम्बन्ध (Verb prefix)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग (preverb) — intensifier/completive with verb

• अवाप्नोति: obtains
• अवाप्नोति: क्रिया (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु) [उपसर्ग: अव-]
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘obtains’

• देवाग्रे: in front of the deity/deities
• देवाग्रे: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानाम् अग्रे); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — Locative singular

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Relative pronoun, nominative singular

• जपम्: japa (muttered prayer)
• जपम्: कर्म (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• चरेत्: should perform
• चरेत्: क्रिया (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘should perform/practise’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It elevates mantra-japa performed in the presence of Śiva above external ritual grandeur, teaching that devotion and focused remembrance can yield merit comparable to vast Vedic sacrifices.

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

“Devāgre” implies worship before the manifest Deity—commonly the Śiva-liṅga—showing that Saguna worship (approaching Śiva with form) supports concentrated japa and draws Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform mantra-japa before Śiva—especially the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—as a disciplined daily practice, ideally in front of the liṅga, with steady attention and devotion.