Shloka 20

Devanagari script

सुगूढमपि शास्त्रेषु पुराणेषु श्रुतिष्वपि । भवत्स्नेहान्मया विप्राः प्रकाशः क्रियतेऽधुना

Transliteration

sugūḍhamapi śāstreṣu purāṇeṣu śrutiṣvapi | bhavatsnehānmayā viprāḥ prakāśaḥ kriyate'dhunā

Translation

Though this truth is very deeply concealed even within the Śāstras, the Purāṇas, and the Śrutis, O brāhmaṇa sages, out of affection for you I now make it clear and manifest.

Word by Word

• सु-गूढम्: very hidden (thing)
• सु-गूढम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गूढ (प्रातिपदिक) + सु- (उपसर्ग/उपपद)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (very hidden)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• शास्त्रेषु: in the treatises
• शास्त्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• पुराणेषु: in the Purāṇas
• पुराणेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; अधिकरण

• श्रुतिषु: in the Vedas (śrutis)
• श्रुतिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; अधिकरण

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• भवत्-स्नेहात्: from/because of your affection
• भवत्-स्नेहात्: Apadana/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; तृतीय-तत्पुरुष/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (your affection); अपादान (ablative: because of/from)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• विप्राः: O brāhmaṇas
• विप्राः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे/आह्वान (address)

• प्रकाशः: the disclosure/clarification
• प्रकाशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्तृपद (subject)

• क्रियते: is being done/made
• क्रियते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The verse underscores that Śiva’s doctrine can be ‘sugūḍha’ (deeply hidden) even in śruti and purāṇa—yet becomes manifest through compassionate exposition; this aligns with Kāśī’s reputation as a place where hidden truth is revealed through Śiva’s grace and teaching lineages.

Significance: Promises that sincere seekers receive clarified upadeśa; the ‘unconcealment’ of meaning is itself a form of Śiva’s anugraha overcoming tirodhāna.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It highlights that the deepest Shaiva truth—realization of Śiva as Pati (the Lord) who grants liberation—can remain hidden in scripture unless revealed through compassionate instruction; devotion and receptivity make the teaching luminous.

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

By promising to ‘make clear’ what is concealed, the narrator prepares the sages for practical, accessible Shaiva upāsanā—often expressed through Saguna worship such as the Śiva-liṅga—through which seekers approach the Nirguṇa reality of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies śravaṇa (listening) and manana (contemplation) under guidance; in the Vidyeśvara context this commonly culminates in disciplined japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and regular Śiva-pūjā.