Shloka 28

Devanagari script

शैवीं कथां हि शृण्वानः पुरुषो हि मुनीश्वर । स निस्तरति संसारं दग्ध्वा कर्ममहाटवीम्

Transliteration

śaivīṃ kathāṃ hi śṛṇvānaḥ puruṣo hi munīśvara | sa nistarati saṃsāraṃ dagdhvā karmamahāṭavīm

Translation

O lord among sages, one who listens to the sacred Śaiva narrative crosses beyond saṃsāra, having burned up the great forest of karma.

Word by Word

• śaivīm: Śaiva, relating to Śiva
• śaivīm: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaivī (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)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphatic

• śṛṇvānaḥ: listening
• śṛṇvānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमान-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• puruṣaḥ: a man, person
• puruṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphatic

• munīśvara: O lord of sages
• munīśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• nistarati: crosses over, is delivered
• nistarati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nis + tṝ (तॄ धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

• saṃsāram: worldly existence
• saṃsāram: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃsāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• dagdhvā: having burned
• dagdhvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dah (दह् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having burned’

• karma-mahā-ṭavīm: the great forest of (one’s) karma
• karma-mahā-ṭavīm: Karma (कर्म/object of dagdhvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ṭavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (तत्पुरुष) ‘the great forest of karma’; Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Defines the fruit of śravaṇa as saṃsāra-tāraṇa (crossing over), resonating with tīrtha imagery though not tied to a specific Jyotirliṅga.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that śravaṇa (devotional listening) of Śiva-kathā purifies the soul and destroys karmic bondage, enabling one to cross saṃsāra by the grace of Pati (Śiva).

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

Śiva-kathā typically culminates in devotion to Saguna Śiva—especially Linga-upāsanā—because hearing His glories strengthens bhakti, which in turn burns karmic impressions and leads toward realization of Śiva as the supreme Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regularly listen to or recite Śiva Purāṇa/Śiva-kathā with faith (śraddhā); support it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and simple Śiva-pūjā as one’s daily discipline.