Shloka 25

पुराणश्रवणप्रस्तावः

Prologue to the Recitation of the Śaiva Purāṇa

Devanagari script

तस्माच्छ्रवणमेवादौ श्रुत्वा गुरुमुखाद्बुधः । ततः संसाधयेदन्यत्कीर्तनं मननं सुधीः

Transliteration

tasmācchravaṇamevādau śrutvā gurumukhādbudhaḥ | tataḥ saṃsādhayedanyatkīrtanaṃ mananaṃ sudhīḥ

Translation

Therefore, in the beginning, the wise seeker should indeed take up listening—having heard the teaching from the mouth of the Guru. Thereafter, the discerning one should duly cultivate the other practices: kīrtana (devotional praise) and manana (deep contemplation).

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: सम्बन्ध/हेतु (Causal connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; हेत्वर्थे (ablatival adverb: ‘therefore/from that’)

• श्रवणम्: hearing; listening
• श्रवणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• आदौ: at first; in the beginning
• आदौ: अधिकरण (Adverbial locative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम् (locative used adverbially): ‘in the beginning’

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive) — ‘having heard’

• गुरुमुखात्: from the teacher’s mouth
• गुरुमुखात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु-मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन (Singular); समासः तत्पुरुषः (गुरोः मुखम्)

• बुधः: the wise person
• बुधः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्ध (Sequencing adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: then/thereafter)

• संसाधयेत्: should accomplish; should practice
• संसाधयेत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+साध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• अन्यत्: other (practice)
• अन्यत्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular) — ‘other (thing)’ qualifying next items collectively

• कीर्तनम्: chanting; praising
• कीर्तनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• मननम्: reflection; contemplation
• मननम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• सुधीः: the intelligent one
• सुधीः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); समासः कर्मधारयः (सु-धीः = good/intelligent-minded)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga episode; it is a guru-centered soteriological instruction: śravaṇa from the guru, then kīrtana and manana—classic progression toward right knowledge and grace.

Significance: Frames the inner pilgrimage: approaching the guru (ācārya) and śāstra as the gateway to Śiva-realization; supports the Siddhānta emphasis on dīkṣā/ācārya and disciplined practice.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes the Shaiva path of inner transformation: first receive Śiva-tattva through authentic Guru-led hearing (śravaṇa), then stabilize it through praise/recitation (kīrtana) and reflective assimilation (manana), leading the mind toward Śiva-realization.

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

Hearing from the Guru clarifies how Saguna worship—such as Linga-pūjā and chanting Śiva’s names—should be performed with right understanding; kīrtana becomes the voiced devotion, and manana turns ritual into lived insight centered on Śiva as Pati (the Lord).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Begin with śravaṇa of Śiva-dharma from a Guru, then practice kīrtana—especially Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—and follow it with manana, quietly contemplating the meaning of the mantra and Śiva’s grace.