Shloka 23

पुराणश्रवणप्रस्तावः

Prologue to the Recitation of the Śaiva Purāṇa

Devanagari script

इति श्रुतिप्रमाणं नः साधनेनाऽमुना परम् । साध्यं व्रजत सर्वार्थसाधनैकपरायणाः

Transliteration

iti śrutipramāṇaṃ naḥ sādhanenā'munā param | sādhyaṃ vrajata sarvārthasādhanaikaparāyaṇāḥ

Translation

“Thus, for us, the authority of Śruti (the Vedas) stands as the proof: by this very spiritual means, proceed to the supreme goal to be attained—remaining wholly devoted to the one practice that accomplishes all aims.”

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• श्रुतिप्रमाणम्: scriptural authority; proof from śruti
• श्रुतिप्रमाणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति-प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः तत्पुरुषः (श्रुतेः प्रमाणम् = scriptural authority)

• नः: our
• नः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural) — enclitic pronoun

• साधनेन: by the means; by this practice
• साधनेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular) — instrumental ‘by means’

• अमुना: by this (one)
• अमुना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (Masc/Neut), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular) — instrumental pronoun ‘by this’

• परम्: supreme; highest
• परम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular) — used adverbially ‘supremely’/or as object ‘the highest’

• साध्यम्: the goal to be achieved
• साध्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्य (कृदन्त; √साध्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); भाव्य/कर्तव्य-अर्थक (to be accomplished)

• व्रजत: go; proceed
• व्रजत: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• सर्वार्थसाधनैकपरायणाः: you who are solely devoted to accomplishing all aims
• सर्वार्थसाधनैकपरायणाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-अर्थ-साधन-एक-परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); बहुव्रीहिः (ये सर्वार्थसाधने एकपरायणाः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms Śruti as the final authority and teaches that one-pointed Shiva-sādhana, pursued steadily, leads to the supreme attain­ment (union with Pati and release from pāśa).

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

By emphasizing a single, all-accomplishing means, it supports focused Saguna worship—such as Linga-upāsanā—as a complete path that culminates in realization of Shiva’s supreme nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Single-minded adherence to Shiva-sādhana—classically centered on mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) along with disciplined worship—rather than scattering effort across many practices.