Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

श्रुतिस्मृतिपुराणेतिहासागमशतानि च । एतच्छिवपुराणस्य नार्हंत्यल्पां कलामपि

Transliteration

śrutismṛtipurāṇetihāsāgamaśatāni ca | etacchivapurāṇasya nārhaṃtyalpāṃ kalāmapi

Translation

Even hundreds of Śrutis, Smṛtis, Purāṇas, Itihāsas, and Āgamas are not worthy to equal even a small fraction of this Śiva Purāṇa.

Word by Word

• श्रुति-स्मृति-पुराण-इतिहास-आगम-शतानि: hundreds of (texts like) Śruti, Smṛti, Purāṇa, Itihāsa and Āgama
• श्रुति-स्मृति-पुराण-इतिहास-आगम-शतानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति + स्मृति + पुराण + इतिहास + आगम + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एतत्-शिव-पुराणस्य: of this Śiva-Purāṇa
• एतत्-शिव-पुराणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + शिव + पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): एतत्-शिवपुराण

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अर्हन्ति: are worthy / can match
• अर्हन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अल्पाम्: a small
• अल्पाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies कलाम्)

• कलाम्: a fraction/part
• कलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/अपि-कार (emphatic/also/even)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It proclaims the unique spiritual potency of the Śiva Purāṇa as a direct vehicle of Śiva-bhakti and liberating knowledge, presenting Pati (Śiva) as the supreme refuge whose grace cuts bondage.

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

By elevating the Śiva Purāṇa, the verse elevates its prescribed modes of devotion—especially reverent worship of Śiva in accessible forms such as the Liṅga—through which devotees approach the transcendent (nirguṇa) Lord via saguna upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to prioritize Śiva-centered śravaṇa (listening/recitation) and bhakti grounded in Śaiva practice—regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) along with disciplined pūjā as taught in Śaiva āgamas.