Shloka 88

Umāyāḥ Kriyāyoga-Rahasya

The Esoteric Teaching on Umā’s Kriyāyoga

Devanagari script

तस्मादियं महापुण्या रम्योमासंहिता सदा । श्रोतव्या पठितव्या च शिवभक्तिमभीप्सुभिः

Transliteration

tasmādiyaṃ mahāpuṇyā ramyomāsaṃhitā sadā | śrotavyā paṭhitavyā ca śivabhaktimabhīpsubhiḥ

Translation

Therefore, this ever-auspicious and delightful Umā-saṃhitā, bestowing great merit, should always be listened to and also recited by those who seek devotion to Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya); तस्मात् = तद्-शब्दस्य पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपं, कारणार्थे (ablative used adverbially: 'therefore/from that')

• इयम्: this (she/this one)
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• महापुण्या: very meritorious
• महापुण्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महापुण्य (प्रातिपदिक; महा + पुण्य)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• रम्या: lovely; delightful
• रम्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• उमासंहिता: the Umā-saṃhitā
• उमासंहिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा + संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (उमायाः संहिता)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (temporal adverb)

• श्रोतव्या: should be heard
• श्रोतव्या: Vidhi/Prayojya (विधि/प्रयोज्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligative); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (predicate: 'to be heard/should be heard')

• पठितव्या: should be read/recited
• पठितव्या: Vidhi/Prayojya (विधि/प्रयोज्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligative); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शिवभक्तिम्: devotion to Śiva
• शिवभक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवभक्ति (प्रातिपदिक; शिव + भक्ति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य भक्तिः)

• अभीप्सुभिः: by those who desire
• अभीप्सुभिः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent; implied doers)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभीप्सु (प्रातिपदिक; √आप्/ईप्स् इच्छायाम् से व्युत्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्तृ-विशेषणवत् (agent noun: 'desirers')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Positions Umāsaṃhitā as a bhakti-upāya: regular listening/recitation cultivates śivabhakti, the proximate cause for anugraha leading to liberation in Siddhānta framing.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It declares śravaṇa (listening) and pāṭha (recitation) of the Umā-saṃhitā as a direct means to deepen Śiva-bhakti, presenting devotion to Pati (Śiva) as the purifier and merit-giving path.

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

By urging regular listening and recitation, it supports Saguna upāsanā through sacred narrative and praise, which traditionally culminates in reverence to Śiva’s forms—especially the Liṅga—strengthening loving devotion and right understanding.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily or periodic śravaṇa/pāṭha of the Umā-saṃhitā (especially on Mondays or Mahāśivarātri), ideally alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”