Shloka 14

Devanagari script

तावत्सर्वाणि पीठानि विवदंति महीतले । यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

Transliteration

tāvatsarvāṇi pīṭhāni vivadaṃti mahītale | yāvacchivapurāṇaṃ hi nodeṣyati mahītale

Translation

So long do all the sacred seats of doctrine contend upon the earth—until, indeed, the Śiva Purāṇa rises and is proclaimed upon the earth.

Word by Word

• तावत्: so long; until then
• तावत्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), कालपरिमाणवाचक/पर्यन्तबोधक (temporal extent: 'so long')

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्व-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (adjective)

• पीठानि: seats/holy seats (pīṭhas)
• पीठानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pīṭha (पीठ-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• विवदन्ति: dispute/contend
• विवदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√vad (धातु: वद्)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• महीतले: on the earth’s surface
• महीतले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī-tala (मही + तल; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpurusha: 'earth-surface'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)

• यावत्: until; as long as
• यावत्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), यावत्-तावत् सम्बन्धे पर्यन्तबोधक (correlative 'until/so long as')

• शिवपुराणम्: the Śiva Purāṇa
• शिवपुराणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva-purāṇa (शिव + पुराण; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpurusha: 'Śiva’s Purāṇa'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (singular)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), निपात (particle) — emphasis/indeed

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), निषेध (negation particle)

• उदेष्यति: will arise/appear; will come forth
• उदेष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud√iṣ (धातु: इष्)
• Form: लृट् लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• महीतले: on the earth’s surface
• महीतले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī-tala (मही + तल; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpurusha); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: No jyotirliṅga episode; ‘pīṭhas’ here are best read as doctrinal seats/schools or sacred centers whose rival claims persist until the Śiva Purāṇa provides siddhānta (settled conclusion).

Significance: Encourages seekers to move from sectarian disputation to siddhānta—settled understanding—thereby reducing tirodhāna (confusion/veiling) and enabling grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that doctrinal conflict and partial views subside when the Śiva Purāṇa is revealed and heard, because it establishes Pati (Śiva) as the supreme truth and the sure path of grace for liberation.

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

By presenting the Śiva Purāṇa as the clarifying revelation, it supports Saguna worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—as an authoritative, grace-filled means to approach the transcendent (Nirguṇa) Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Śravaṇa and kīrtana of the Śiva Purāṇa—listening to and reciting it with devotion—along with steady remembrance of Śiva (often supported by pañcākṣarī japa, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).