Shloka 24

पुराणश्रवणप्रस्तावः

Prologue to the Recitation of the Śaiva Purāṇa

Devanagari script

प्रत्यक्षं चक्षुषा दृष्ट्वा तत्र लोकः प्रवर्तते । अप्रत्यक्षं हि सर्वत्र ज्ञात्वा श्रोत्रेण चेष्टते

Transliteration

pratyakṣaṃ cakṣuṣā dṛṣṭvā tatra lokaḥ pravartate | apratyakṣaṃ hi sarvatra jñātvā śrotreṇa ceṣṭate

Translation

Seeing with the eyes what is directly perceptible, people engage in it. But regarding what is not directly perceptible everywhere, once it is understood, they proceed by relying on hearing—authoritative instruction.

Word by Word

• प्रत्यक्षम्: the directly perceptible
• प्रत्यक्षम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रत्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular) — ‘the visible/direct’ as object

• चक्षुषा: with the eye
• चक्षुषा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular) — instrumental

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive) — ‘having seen’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adverbial locative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• लोकः: people; the world
• लोकः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रवर्तते: proceeds; engages; acts
• प्रवर्तते: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• अप्रत्यक्षम्: the not-directly-perceptible
• अप्रत्यक्षम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-प्रत्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular) — ‘the non-direct/imperceptible’ as object

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis)

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: अधिकरण (Adverbial locative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: everywhere)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive) — ‘having known’

• श्रोत्रेण: with the ear; by hearing
• श्रोत्रेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular) — instrumental

• चेष्टते: strives; makes effort; acts
• चेष्टते: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific narration; it establishes epistemic hierarchy: pratyakṣa for the seen and śruti/śabda for the unseen, a key frame for approaching Śiva who transcends sensory grasp.

Significance: Encourages reliance on śāstra and guru-upadeśa for the imperceptible (Śiva-tattva, pāśa, and mokṣa), shaping the pilgrim’s inner orientation more than a physical tīrtha.

FAQs

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

It distinguishes two ways humans move toward truth: the seen is followed by direct perception, but the highest realities—like Shiva as the supreme Pati beyond the senses—are approached through śravaṇa (hearing sacred teaching) and then lived practice.

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

The Linga is a visible support for devotion (saguna upāsanā), while Shiva’s ultimate nature is not grasped by the eyes. Therefore, devotees rely on scriptural hearing—Purāṇa, mantra, and guru-instruction—to understand the Linga’s deeper meaning and to worship with right knowledge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Śravaṇa of Shiva-kathā and mantra-upadeśa leading to japa—especially the Panchākṣarī ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’—since the imperceptible truth is stabilized through hearing, repetition, and disciplined worship (with bhasma/rudrākṣa where prescribed).