Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

व्यस्तेष्टादशधा चैव पुराणे द्वापरादिषु । चतुर्लक्षेण संक्षिप्ते कृते द्वैपायनादिभिः

Transliteration

vyasteṣṭādaśadhā caiva purāṇe dvāparādiṣu | caturlakṣeṇa saṃkṣipte kṛte dvaipāyanādibhiḥ

Translation

In the Dvāpara age and the ages thereafter, the Purāṇa was also arranged in eighteen divisions; and when it had been condensed into four hundred thousand verses, it was compiled by Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa) and other sages.

Word by Word

• व्यस्ते: when divided/arranged
• व्यस्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + अस् (धातु) → व्यस्त (कृदन्त-क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘पुराणे’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (when divided/arranged)

• अष्टादश-धा: into eighteen (parts)
• अष्टादश-धा: Prakara (प्रकार/विभाग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अष्टादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + धा (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: विभागवाचक-अव्यय (in eighteen ways/into eighteen parts)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (only/indeed)

• पुराणे: in the Purāṇa(s)
• पुराणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• द्वापर-आदिषु: in Dvāpara and other (yugas)
• द्वापर-आदिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वापर (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (द्वापरः आदिः येषां तेषु)

• चतुर्-लक्षेण: by/into four lakhs (as measure)
• चतुर्-लक्षेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/परिमाण), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (चत्वारि लक्षाणि)

• संक्षिप्ते: when condensed
• संक्षिप्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + क्षिप् (धातु) → संक्षिप्त (कृदन्त-क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘पुराणे’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (when condensed)

• कृते: when made/compiled
• कृते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त-क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘पुराणे’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (when made/compiled)

• द्वैपायन-आदिभिः: by Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa) and others
• द्वैपायन-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वैपायन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्ता-करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (द्वैपायनः आदिः येषां तैः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Dvāpara-yuga and subsequent yugas referenced; textual condensation across time implied.

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa (Dvaipayana)

FAQs

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

It affirms the sanctity of Shaiva revelation as preserved through an authorized lineage—Purāṇic wisdom is not random lore but a carefully transmitted scripture, enabling devotees to approach Shiva (Pati) through reliable teaching that supports bhakti and liberation.

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

By emphasizing Vyāsa’s compilation and the structured Purāṇic corpus, the verse underlines that practices like Liṅga-pūjā, mantra, and vrata taught in the Shiva Purana rest on a recognized scriptural foundation, guiding devotees toward Saguna worship that matures into realization of Shiva’s supreme nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined śravaṇa (listening) and svādhyāya (study) of the Shiva Purana as a sādhana—regular recitation and hearing in a devotional setting, supported by mantra-japa (especially Shaiva mantras) as taught elsewhere in the Samhitā.