Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

प्रोक्तं शिवपुराणं हि चतुर्विंशत्सहस्रकम् । श्लोकानां संख्यया सप्तसंहितं ब्रह्मसंमितम्

Transliteration

proktaṃ śivapurāṇaṃ hi caturviṃśatsahasrakam | ślokānāṃ saṃkhyayā saptasaṃhitaṃ brahmasaṃmitam

Translation

Indeed, the Śiva Purāṇa has been declared to contain twenty-four thousand verses; by the count of its ślokas it is arranged into seven saṃhitās and is of the measure (authority) of Brahmā’s revelation.

Word by Word

• proktam: said, proclaimed
• proktam: Karma (कर्म) / Predicate adjective to object
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vac (धातु) + prokta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; past passive participle used adjectivally

• śiva-purāṇam: the Śiva Purāṇa
• śiva-purāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य पुराणम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

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

• catur-viṃśat-sahasrakam: consisting of twenty-four thousand
• catur-viṃśat-sahasrakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक) + viṃśati (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + -ka (प्रत्यय)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (संख्यापूर्वक), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; numeral compound qualifying purāṇam

• ślokānām: of verses
• ślokānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (genitive plural)

• saṃkhyayā: by count/number
• saṃkhyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃkhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• sapta-saṃhitam: having seven saṃhitās
• sapta-saṃhitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃhitā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (सप्त संहिताः यस्य/यत्र), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; qualifying śivapurāṇam

• brahma-saṃmitam: equal to Brahmā (in measure/authority)
• brahma-saṃmitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃmita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणा संमितम्/ब्रह्मसमं मितम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; qualifying śivapurāṇam

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms the received Śiva Purāṇa as ‘brahma-saṃmita’ (Brahmā-sanctioned/authoritative), encouraging śravaṇa (listening) as a meritorious act.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It establishes the Śiva Purāṇa as a complete, formally organized Śaiva scripture—meant to be approached as an authoritative guide to Śiva-bhakti and liberation (mokṣa) through right understanding and devotion.

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

By defining the Śiva Purāṇa’s scope and authority, it frames later teachings—especially in the Vidyeśvara Saṃhitā—on Saguna worship such as Śiva-liṅga pūjā, mantra, and disciplined devotion as scripturally grounded.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse itself is classificatory, but it implicitly supports śravaṇa (listening), pāṭha (recitation), and mananā (reflection) of the Śiva Purāṇa as a devotional discipline that complements mantra-japa (notably the Pañcākṣarī).