Shloka 62

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

Devanagari script

ससप्तसंहितं दिव्यं पुराणं शिवसंज्ञकम् । वरीवर्ति ब्रह्मतुल्यं सर्वोपरि गतिप्रदम्

Transliteration

sasaptasaṃhitaṃ divyaṃ purāṇaṃ śivasaṃjñakam | varīvarti brahmatulyaṃ sarvopari gatipradam

Translation

This divine Purāṇa, known as the Śiva Purāṇa and consisting of seven saṃhitās, shines forth as equal to Brahman; it stands above all and bestows the highest spiritual goal—liberation (mokṣa).

Word by Word

• स-सप्त-संहितम्: with seven saṃhitās
• स-सप्त-संहितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘पुराणम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + सप्त + संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘स’ = सह (with) + ‘सप्तसंहिता’ (having seven saṃhitās)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पुराणम्: Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शिव-संज्ञकम्: called ‘Śiva’
• शिव-संज्ञकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + संज्ञक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘शिव’ इति संज्ञा यस्य (having the name ‘Śiva’)

• वरीवर्ति: exists; is found
• वरीवर्ति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; देश्य/वैदिक-रूपम्—‘वर्तते/अस्ति’ इत्यर्थः

• ब्रह्म-तुल्यम्: equal to Brahman
• ब्रह्म-तुल्यम्: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘ब्रह्मतुल्य’ = ब्रह्मणा तुल्यम् (equal to Brahman)

• सर्व-उपरि: above all
• सर्व-उपरि: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्व + उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्यय (adverb) — ‘above all’

• गति-प्रदम्: granting liberation/attainment
• गति-प्रदम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गति + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘गति’ (liberating path/state) + ‘प्रद’ (giver)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse extols the Śiva Purāṇa as brahma-tulya and mokṣa-prada (giver of the supreme goal).

Significance: Textual tīrtha: hearing/reciting is framed as a direct means to the ‘highest gati’ (mokṣa), paralleling pilgrimage merit.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahman

FAQs

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

It proclaims the Śiva Purāṇa as supremely authoritative and spiritually efficacious—capable of leading the soul (paśu) to the highest gati, i.e., mokṣa, through Śiva-centered knowledge and devotion.

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

By declaring the text ‘supreme’ and ‘goal-bestowing,’ it implicitly validates the Śiva Purāṇa’s prescribed upāsanā—especially saguna worship such as Śiva-liṅga devotion—as an effective means culminating in realization of the highest truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is śravaṇa and pāṭha (listening/recitation) of the Śiva Purāṇa with Śiva-bhakti, supported by core Śaiva practices taught in the Vidyeśvara section—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and reverent liṅga-upacāra.