Shloka 16

शिवपुराण-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Śiva Purāṇa) / Śivapurāṇa Māhātmya

Devanagari script

तावत्सर्वे च ते देवा विवदंति महीतले । यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

Transliteration

tāvatsarve ca te devā vivadaṃti mahītale | yāvacchivapurāṇaṃ hi nodeṣyati mahītale

Translation

All those gods continued disputing upon the earth, so long as the Śiva Purāṇa had not yet arisen and been proclaimed in the world.

Word by Word

• तावत्: so long (as)
• तावत्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, परिमाण/कालवाचक (correlative adverb: ‘so long’)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• ते: those
• ते: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• विवदन्ति: argue/dispute
• विवदन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः वि-

• महीतले: on the earth’s surface
• महीतले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही-तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘महीयाः तलम्’)

• यावत्: until/as long as
• यावत्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, यावत्-तावत् सहसंबन्धि (correlative: ‘until/as long as’)

• शिवपुराणम्: the Shiva Purana
• शिवपुराणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘शिवस्य पुराणम्’)

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

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• उदेष्यति: will arise/appear (be promulgated)
• उदेष्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√इष् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः उद्-

• महीतले: on the earth
• महीतले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही-तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a sthala-purāṇa episode; the verse frames a cosmic/earthly condition: devas remain in contention until Śiva’s own Purāṇic revelation manifests, implying that right-knowledge (śiva-jñāna) resolves divine and worldly disputation.

Significance: Śravaṇa/kīrtana of Śiva-kathā is presented as a panacea for conflict born of partial knowledge; pilgrimage here is ‘textual tīrtha’—approaching Śiva through Purāṇa-śravaṇa.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Dharma-jñāna ‘eclipse’: devas’ disputation persists until Śiva Purāṇa’s manifestation—an implicit tirodhāna (concealment) lifted by śāstra-prakāśa.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Shiva Purana

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that divine discord persists where Śiva-tattva is not properly revealed; when the Śiva Purāṇa appears, it restores right understanding (jñāna) and devotion (bhakti), harmonizing dharma and guiding beings toward liberation.

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

By implying that clarity comes with the Śiva Purāṇa’s manifestation, it points to scriptural authority for Saguna worship—especially Śiva’s accessible form as the Liṅga—through which devotees practice reverence, receive grace (anugraha), and transcend confusion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śravaṇa (devotional listening/recitation) of the Śiva Purāṇa as a sādhana; paired with chanting the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") it steadies the mind and aligns one with Śiva’s grace.