Shloka 3

पुराणविदः महिमा तथा अध्ययन-अध्यापन-दानफलम्

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

Devanagari script

जगद्यथा निरालोकं जायतेऽशशिभास्करम् । विना तथा पुराणं ह्यध्येयमस्मान्मुने सदा

Transliteration

jagadyathā nirālokaṃ jāyate'śaśibhāskaram | vinā tathā purāṇaṃ hyadhyeyamasmānmune sadā

Translation

O sage, just as the world would be without light if there were no moon and sun, so too this Purāṇa should always be studied with us; without it, understanding remains as if in darkness.

Word by Word

• jagat: the world
• jagat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/conjunction), उपमानवाचक (comparative)

• nir-ālokam: without light, dark
• nir-ālokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir (उपसर्ग) + āloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (predicate/qualifier)

• jāyate: comes to be/is born
• jāyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (जन् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present Indicative), तृतीयपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• a-śaśi-bhāskaram: without moon and sun
• a-śaśi-bhāskaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a (नञ्) + śaśin (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāskara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक द्वन्द्व-समास (moon-and-sun) as a unit; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• vinā: without
• vinā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (preposition-like), वियोगार्थक (without)

• tathā: so, likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), तद्वत् (so/in the same way)

• purāṇam: Purāṇa (sacred text)
• purāṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• adhyeyam: to be studied
• adhyeyam: Vidhi (विधि/आज्ञा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhi-√i (इ धातु) → adhyeya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृत्य (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय (to be studied)

• asmāt: from us/than us
• asmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन (Singular), उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

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

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

FAQs

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

It equates scriptural study with illumination: without the Shiva Purana’s guidance, the seeker remains in the darkness of ignorance, whereas regular study brings clarity about Shiva (Pati), bondage (Pasha), and the soul (Pashu).

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

By insisting on continual study, it implies that correct Linga/Saguna worship must be grounded in revealed instruction—so devotion is not merely emotional, but aligned with Shiva’s prescribed understanding, mantra, and conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular śravaṇa and adhyayana (listening and study) of the Shiva Purana—ideally alongside daily japa of Shiva’s names (such as the Panchakshara) to internalize the teaching as lived practice.