Shloka 26

Devanagari script

कथां पौराणिकीं श्रोतुं यद्यशक्तस्सदा भवेत् । नियतात्मा प्रतिदिनं शृणुयाद्वा मुहूर्तकम्

Transliteration

kathāṃ paurāṇikīṃ śrotuṃ yadyaśaktassadā bhavet | niyatātmā pratidinaṃ śṛṇuyādvā muhūrtakam

Translation

Si uno no puede escuchar siempre la sagrada narración puránica, entonces, con mente disciplinada y contenida, que la escuche cada día al menos por un muhūrta (un breve lapso fijado).

Word by Word

• kathām: story, discourse
• kathām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• paurāṇikīm: purāṇic, from the Purāṇas
• paurāṇikīm: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paurāṇikī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with कथाम्

• śrotum: to hear
• śrotum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), ‘to hear’

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional conjunction (शर्त-सम्बन्धक-अव्यय)

• aśaktaḥ: unable
• aśaktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-śakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/temporal modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (नित्यत्ववाचक-अव्यय)

• bhavet: should be, may be
• bhavet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• niyata-ātmā: a self-controlled person
• niyata-ātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyata (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) ‘one whose self is disciplined’; Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• prati-dinam: daily
• prati-dinam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/temporal modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय) + dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) adverb; ‘each day’

• śṛṇuyāt: should listen
• śṛṇuyāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक-निपात)

• muhūrtakam: for a muhūrta (a short while)
• muhūrtakam: Kāla-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण/time extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); measure of time used adverbially

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Śravaṇa (listening) to Śaiva kathā is framed as a daily sādhana that gradually purifies the paśu and makes it fit for Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that even limited daily śravaṇa (listening) to Shaiva Purāṇic kathā purifies the mind (citta-śuddhi) and steadily turns the soul toward Pati (Shiva), loosening pāśa (bondage) through consistent devotion.

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

Regular listening sustains remembrance of Saguna Shiva—His līlā, grace, and symbols like the Liṅga—so that worship becomes continuous in intent even when one cannot perform elaborate rituals.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical niyama is prescribed: set aside a daily fixed time (even one muhūrta) for hearing/recitation of Shiva-kathā; it may be paired with simple japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to stabilize attention.