Shloka 18

Devanagari script

इतिहासपुराणाभ्यां शम्भोरायतने शुभे । नान्यत्प्रीतिकरं शंभोस्तथान्येषां दिवौकसाम्

Transliteration

itihāsapurāṇābhyāṃ śambhorāyatane śubhe | nānyatprītikaraṃ śaṃbhostathānyeṣāṃ divaukasām

Translation

In the auspicious abode of Śambhu, nothing delights Śiva more than the recitation of the Itihāsas and Purāṇas; likewise, nothing else is so pleasing to the other gods who dwell in heaven.

Word by Word

• इतिहासपुराणाभ्याम्: by (means of) the Itihāsa and Purāṇa
• इतिहासपुराणाभ्याम्: करण (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतिहास (प्रातिपदिक) + पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (इतिहासश्च पुराणं च); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), द्विवचन — Instrumental dual

• शंभोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभोः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — Genitive singular

• आयतने: in the abode/temple
• आयतने: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — Locative singular

• शुभे: auspicious
• शुभे: विशेषण (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — Locative singular agreeing with आयतने

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (अव्यय/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• अन्यत्: anything else
• अन्यत्: विधेय (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular (predicate)

• प्रीतिकरम्: pleasing; causing delight
• प्रीतिकरम्: विशेषण (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय (प्रीतिं करोति इति); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular agreeing with अन्यत्

• शंभोः: to/of Śambhu
• शंभोः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — Genitive singular

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (अव्यय/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण/समुच्चयार्थक (adverb/conjunctive) — ‘so/likewise’

• अन्येषाम्: of others
• अन्येषाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — Genitive plural

• दिवौकसाम्: of the dwellers in heaven (gods)
• दिवौकसाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक) + ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दिवि ओकः येषाम्/दिवि ओकसः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — Genitive plural

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Temple-centered dharma: in Śambhu’s shrine, kathā/recitation of Itihāsa-Purāṇa is declared the most pleasing offering to Śiva and devas.

Significance: Frames śāstra-śravaṇa/kathā as a temple-offering (upacāra) that delights the deity and strengthens bhakti and right understanding.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It teaches that śravaṇa and pāṭha of sacred narratives (Itihāsa–Purāṇa) in Śiva’s temple is a direct form of bhakti that pleases Pati (Śiva) and supports inner purification toward moksha.

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

The verse situates devotion within Śiva’s āyatana (often centered on the Liṅga), showing that alongside external upacāra, scriptural recitation and attentive listening are powerful offerings to Saguna Śiva present for devotees.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Purāṇa-kathā/śravaṇa in a Śiva temple—listening with concentration as an offering; it may be paired with simple bhakti supports like japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and respectful temple observances.