Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

तदिदं शैवमाख्यातं पुराणं वेदसंमितम् । निर्मितं तच्छिवेनैव प्रथमं ब्रह्मसंमितम्

Transliteration

tadidaṃ śaivamākhyātaṃ purāṇaṃ vedasaṃmitam | nirmitaṃ tacchivenaiva prathamaṃ brahmasaṃmitam

Translation

This indeed is the Śaiva Purāṇa, declared to be in full accord with the Vedas. It was first composed by Śiva Himself, and was initially set forth as the Brahma-saṃhitā, the recension entrusted to Brahmā.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शैवम्: Śaiva, pertaining to Śiva
• शैवम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आख्यातम्: called/known as
• आख्यातम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुराणम्: Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वेदसंमितम्: in accord with the Veda
• वेदसंमितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + संमित (प्रातिपदिक; √मा + क्त, ‘measured/commensurate’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वेदेन संमितम्)

• निर्मितम्: made/constructed
• निर्मितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-√मा (धातु) + क्त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्: by him/that one
• तत्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (in sandhi context)

• शिवेन: by Śiva
• शिवेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis ‘indeed/only’)

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मसंमितम्: commensurate with Brahman/Brahmā (Brahma-like)
• ब्रह्मसंमितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + संमित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणा/ब्रह्मणः संमितम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Textual origin claim: the Purāṇa is ‘veda-saṃmita’ and first authored by Śiva, then transmitted as a Brahmā-recension (Brahma-saṃhitā).

Significance: Establishes śāstra-prāmāṇya (authority) and frames study/hearing as a salvific act under Śiva’s authorship—key for Śaiva Siddhānta where scripture is a vehicle of anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It asserts Śiva as the primal revealer of liberating knowledge and establishes the Śiva Purāṇa as Veda-consistent, guiding the soul (paśu) toward Śiva (Pati) through right understanding and devotion.

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

By grounding the text in Vedic legitimacy and Śiva’s own authorship, it authorizes the Purāṇic-Āgamic modes of worship—especially reverence to Saguna Śiva through the Liṅga—while pointing to the higher realization of Śiva’s supreme nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śravaṇa (devotional listening/recitation) of the Śiva Purāṇa with Veda-aligned faith, supported by mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as one’s daily discipline.