Shloka 40

पुराणविदः महिमा तथा अध्ययन-अध्यापन-दानफलम्

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

Devanagari script

न भवेयुः पुराणानि धर्ममार्गे क्षणानि तु । यद्यत्र यद्व्रती स्थाता चात्र पारत्रकी कथाम्

Transliteration

na bhaveyuḥ purāṇāni dharmamārge kṣaṇāni tu | yadyatra yadvratī sthātā cātra pāratrakī kathām

Translation

If the Purāṇas did not exist, even a moment on the path of dharma would not be possible. For wherever a person devoted to a vow abides, there (by the Purāṇic teaching) the discourse concerning the next world is established.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात — Indeclinable negation particle

• भवेयुः: would be/might exist
• भवेयुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन — Optative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• पुराणानि: Purāṇas
• पुराणानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Neuter, Nominative (1st), Plural

• धर्म-मार्गे: on the path of dharma
• धर्म-मार्गे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धर्मस्य मार्गः)

• क्षणानि: moments/instants
• क्षणानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Neuter, Nominative (1st), Plural

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात — Indeclinable particle (contrast/emphasis)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक-अव्यय — Conditional indeclinable

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक — Locative adverb

• यद्-व्रती: one who has such a vow
• यद्-व्रती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; तत्पुरुष (यद्-व्रतं यस्य/येन) ‘one having such a vow’

• स्थाता: will remain/stand
• स्थाता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: भविष्यत्कालिक-कर्तरि कृदन्त (लृट्-अर्थे) ‘स्थातृ/स्थाता’; प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग — Future agent/one who will stand/remain; Nom. sg. masc.

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक — Conjunction

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक — Adverb of place

• पारत्रकी: other-worldly/pertaining to the hereafter
• पारत्रकी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पारत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular (qualifying कथाम्)

• कथाम्: story/discourse
• कथाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares the Purāṇas as practical supports of dharma: they preserve right understanding and inspire vow-based living, leading the seeker toward otherworldly good—heavenly merit and ultimately moksha under Shiva’s grace.

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

By affirming Purāṇic teaching as the guide for dharma, it indirectly grounds Saguna Shiva worship—such as Linga-pūjā, vrata, and katha-śravaṇa—as scripturally upheld means that purify the pashu (bound soul) and orient it to Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to vrata (religious observance) supported by Purāṇic śravaṇa/kathā—regular hearing or recitation of Shiva Purana teachings—as a steady practice that strengthens dharma and contemplation of the beyond.