Shloka 22

वैभ्राजवन-प्रसङ्गः / The Episode of Vaibhrāja and the Yogic Forest

Vibhrāja-vana

Devanagari script

जप्तव्यमेतत्पापस्य प्रशमाय महामुने । नरैः श्रद्धालुभिभूर्यस्सर्वकामफलाप्तये

Transliteration

japtavyametatpāpasya praśamāya mahāmune | naraiḥ śraddhālubhibhūryassarvakāmaphalāptaye

Translation

O great sage, the faithful should recite this again and again, to pacify sin and to attain the fruits of all rightful desires.

Word by Word

• japtavyam: to be recited
• japtavyam: Vidhi (विधेय/आज्ञार्थ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jap (जप् धातु) + tavya (तव्य-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त)
• Form: Gerundive/obligative (तव्यत्-कृदन्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• pāpasya: of sin
• pāpasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• praśamāya: for pacification, for cessation
• praśamāya: Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praśama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahā-mune: O great sage
• mahā-mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—कर्मधारयः (mahān muniḥ)

• naraiḥ: by men
• naraiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śraddhālubhiḥ: by the faithful
• śraddhālubhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śraddhālu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhūriḥ: much, abundantly
• bhūriḥ: Pramāṇa (प्रमाण/परिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय), meaning ‘much/abundantly’

• sarva-kāma-phala-āptaye: for attainment of the fruits of all desires
• sarva-kāma-phala-āptaye: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक) + āpti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (sarveṣāṃ kāmānāṃ phalānām āptiḥ)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Śiva’s own injunction makes japa a normative remedy: pacifies pāpa and grants legitimate worldly fruits, while ultimately orienting the soul toward Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere, repeated japa performed with śraddhā quiets the karmic stain of pāpa and turns the mind toward Shiva (Pati), making the devotee fit for grace and higher realization.

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

Japa is a primary Saguna-Shiva practice: the devotee focuses on Shiva through name/mantra while maintaining devotion and purity, which supports Linga-worship by steadying attention and sanctifying intention.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular mantra-japa—done repeatedly, with faith—ideally alongside Shaiva disciplines such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), Rudrākṣa, and daily Shiva remembrance, for purification and the fulfillment of auspicious aims.