Shloka 20

Devanagari script

तत्तद्भक्त्यनुसारेण सर्वेषां परमं फलम् । तत्साधनं बहुविधं साक्षादीशेन बोधितम्

Transliteration

tattadbhaktyanusāreṇa sarveṣāṃ paramaṃ phalam | tatsādhanaṃ bahuvidhaṃ sākṣādīśena bodhitam

Translation

In accordance with each person’s devotion, the supreme fruit comes to all. The means for attaining that fruit are many, and they were taught directly by Īśa (Lord Śiva) Himself.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समास-पूर्वपदत्वेन; पुनरुक्त-निर्देश (correlative)

• तत्: that (respective)
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समास-पूर्वपदत्वेन; ‘भक्ति’ इति विशेषण-पूर्वपदम्

• भक्ति: devotion
• भक्ति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, समासाङ्गत्वेन; ‘devotion’

• अनुसारेण: according to
• अनुसारेण: Karaṇa (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-भाव (instrumental: ‘according to’)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Pradhāna (विधेय/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘फलम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Pradhāna (विधेय/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समास-पूर्वपदत्वेन; ‘साधन’ इति विशेषण-पूर्वपदम्

• साधनम्: means
• साधनम्: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• बहुविधम्: of many kinds
• बहुविधम्: Karta (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—बहवो विधाः यस्य

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘directly/in person’

• ईशेन: by the Lord
• ईशेन: Karaṇa (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; कर्तृ-करण-भाव (agent/instrumental)

• बोधितम्: taught/instructed
• बोधितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/कर्मणि-भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘साधनम्’ इति विशेष्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the highest spiritual result is attainable by all, but it manifests according to the depth and quality of one’s bhakti; Śiva compassionately provides multiple valid paths (sādhanas) suited to different temperaments.

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

The verse supports Saguna upāsanā: since devotion varies, Śiva prescribes diverse concrete means—such as Linga worship, mantra-japa, and disciplined observances—through which devotees can approach the supreme fruit according to their capacity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies adopting an appropriate Shiva-sādhana taught in the Purana—commonly Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-pūjā with bilva, and supportive disciplines like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa—chosen according to one’s devotion and steadiness.