Shloka 27

Devanagari script

यदि प्रतिदिनं श्रोतुमशक्तो मानवो भवेत् । पुण्यमासादिषु मुने शृणुयाच्छांकरीं कथाम्

Transliteration

yadi pratidinaṃ śrotumaśakto mānavo bhavet | puṇyamāsādiṣu mune śṛṇuyācchāṃkarīṃ kathām

Translation

If a person is unable to listen every day, then, O sage, let him at least listen to the sacred Śaṅkara-related narration during holy months and other auspicious times.

Word by Word

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional conjunction (शर्त-सम्बन्धक-अव्यय)

• prati-dinam: daily
• prati-dinam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/temporal modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय) + dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva adverb (अव्ययीभाव)

• śrotum: to hear
• śrotum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

• aśaktaḥ: unable
• aśaktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-śakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• mānavaḥ: a man, human
• mānavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhavet: should be
• bhavet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• puṇya-māsa-ādiṣu: in auspicious months and the like
• puṇya-māsa-ādiṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + māsa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (तत्पुरुष) ‘in auspicious months etc.’; Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Plural (बहुवचन)

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

• śṛṇuyāt: should listen
• śṛṇuyāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• śāṃkarīm: pertaining to Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• śāṃkarīm: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāṃkarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with कथाम्

• kathām: story, discourse
• kathām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse gestures to kāla-viśeṣa (holy months/auspicious times) as windows of intensified merit—akin to tīrtha-kāla logic in sthala traditions, though no single Jyotirliṅga is specified.

Significance: Encourages periodic intensification of śravaṇa during puṇya-kāla when daily practice is not feasible; aligns with pilgrimage-season religiosity (māsa-vrata culture).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śravaṇa (devotional listening) to Śiva-kathā is a powerful sādhana; even if daily practice is not possible, hearing during auspicious periods sustains devotion and purifies the mind toward Shiva-realization.

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

Śaṅkara-kathā supports Saguna upāsanā by keeping the devotee’s awareness fixed on Shiva’s compassionate forms and līlās, which naturally matures into steadiness in Linga-worship and reverence for Shiva as Pati (the Lord).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical instruction is to schedule Shiva-kathā śravaṇa in puṇya-māsa and festival times (e.g., Mahāśivarātri), ideally alongside simple Shiva devotion such as japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and respectful observances.