Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानां निष्कृतिं कर्तुमुद्यतः । मासमात्रं संहितां तां पठित्वा मुच्यते ततः

Transliteration

brahmahatyādipāpānāṃ niṣkṛtiṃ kartumudyataḥ | māsamātraṃ saṃhitāṃ tāṃ paṭhitvā mucyate tataḥ

Translation

One who is intent on performing expiation for sins such as brahma-hatyā (the slaying of a brāhmaṇa) is freed thereafter by reciting that Saṃhitā for only one month.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्महत्या-आदि-पापानाम्: of sins such as brahmahatyā
• ब्रह्महत्या-आदि-पापानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्महत्या + आदि + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (पाप), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः ‘of sins beginning with brahmahatyā’

• निष्कृतिम्: expiation
• निष्कृतिम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; object of कर्तुम्

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to do’

• उद्यतः: intent / prepared
• उद्यतः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्यत (कृदन्त; √यत् with उद्-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त ‘ready/intent’ (qualifying implied person)

• मासमात्रम्: for only a month
• मासमात्रम्: कालाधिकरण (Extent of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘only a month (duration)’ (adverbial accusative of extent)

• संहिताम्: the saṃhitā (text)
• संहिताम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; object of पठित्वा

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; demonstrative qualifying संहिताम्

• पठित्वा: having recited
• पठित्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having read/recited’

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive) ‘is released’

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: काल/हेतु (Temporal/Result adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: then/from that)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-legend; the verse is śāstra-māhātmya: recitation functions as niṣkṛti (atonement) even for mahāpātakas, by Śiva’s grace mediated through scripture.

Significance: Positions śiva-śāstra-paṭhana as a purifying pilgrimage of speech and mind, capable of removing heavy karmic burdens.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

FAQs

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

It declares the purifying power of devoted scriptural recitation: sustained pāṭha of the Shiva Purana’s Saṃhitā, supported by Śiva-bhakti, functions as niṣkṛti and leads to release from heavy karmic burdens through Lord Shiva’s grace.

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

In the Vidyeśvara context, recitation is not mere reading—it is an act of worship that invokes Saguna Shiva (Śiva approachable through name, form, and teaching). The fruit of purification is understood as arising from devotion to Śiva as Pati, the liberating Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A month-long disciplined practice of Shiva Purana pāṭha (daily recitation), ideally with Shiva japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a simple regimen of purity and devotion, is the implied takeaway.