Shloka 6

Devanagari script

मर्त्यबुद्धिर्न कर्तव्या पुराणज्ञे कदाचन । पुराणज्ञस्सर्ववेत्ता ब्रह्मा विष्णुर्हरो गुरुः

Transliteration

martyabuddhirna kartavyā purāṇajñe kadācana | purāṇajñassarvavettā brahmā viṣṇurharo guruḥ

Translation

One should never entertain a merely human view of a knower of the Purāṇas. The Purāṇa-knower is truly all-knowing—Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Hara (Śiva) in form—and is to be revered as the Guru.

Word by Word

• मर्त्यबुद्धिः: mortal-mindedness
• मर्त्यबुद्धिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (martyasya buddhiḥ)

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

• कर्तव्या: to be done/should be made
• कर्तव्या: विधेय (Predicate/कर्तव्यता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्तव्यताप्रत्यय (gerundive/obligatory), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• पुराणज्ञे: in/with regard to the knower of the Purāṇa
• पुराणज्ञे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण + ज्ञा (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘पुराण’ उपपद + ‘ज्ञ’ (knower)

• कदाचन: ever/at any time
• कदाचन: कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• पुराणज्ञः: the knower of the Purāṇa
• पुराणज्ञः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण + ज्ञा (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्ववेत्ता: knower of all
• सर्ववेत्ता: समानााधिकरण-विशेषण (Appositional predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + वेत्तृ (विद् धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘वेत्ता’ = विद् धातोः तृच् (agent noun)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: समानााधिकरण (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: समानााधिकरण (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: समानााधिकरण (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• गुरुः: guru/teacher
• गुरुः: समानााधिकरण (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Deifies the purāṇa-jña as guru embodying Brahmā–Viṣṇu–Hara; in Siddhānta, the guru is revered as Śiva’s representative (śiva-svarūpa) because grace is mediated through him—hence one must not hold ‘martyabuddhi’ toward him.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Guru

FAQs

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

It teaches Guru-tattva: the teacher who truly knows the Purāṇas should not be judged as an ordinary person, because sacred knowledge is a manifestation of divine grace (Śiva’s anugraha) leading the soul (paśu) beyond bondage (pāśa).

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

In Saguna worship, Śiva is approached through visible supports (like the Liṅga) and living embodiments of dharma; the Purāṇa-knower is honored as a living locus of Śiva’s guidance, strengthening devotion, right understanding, and proper ritual orientation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Śravaṇa (listening to Purāṇa-kathā) with guru-reverence is implied; practically, one may perform guru-pūjā before Shiva worship, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) respectfully, and recite the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with the attitude that the Guru grants Śiva-jnāna.