Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 36

शिवज्ञान-प्रश्नः तथा सृष्टौ शिवस्य स्वयमाविर्भावः

Inquiry into Śiva-knowledge and Śiva’s self-manifestation in creation

प्रणमेद्वा पठेदेताञ्छ्लोकाञ्छ्रुतिमुखानिमान् । न तस्य दुर्ल्लभं किंचिद्भक्तश्चेन्मुच्यते दृढम्

praṇamedvā paṭhedetāñchlokāñchrutimukhānimān | na tasya durllabhaṃ kiṃcidbhaktaścenmucyate dṛḍham

Si l’on se prosterne avec révérence ou que l’on récite ces versets—dont l’essence est enracinée dans la révélation védique—alors, pour ce dévot, rien n’est inaccessible ; et si sa bhakti est authentique, il est assurément et fermement libéré.

प्रणमेत्should bow
प्रणमेत्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootनम् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
वाor
वा:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formविकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)
पठेत्should recite
पठेत्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootपठ् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
एतान्these
एतान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootएतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम-विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण श्लोकान्
श्लोकान्verses
श्लोकान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootश्लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
श्रुति-मुखान्having the Veda as their ‘mouth’ / Veda-fronted
श्रुति-मुखान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रुति + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (श्रुतेः मुखम् इव/श्रुतिमुखम्) विशेषण श्लोकान्
इमान्these (here)
इमान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootइदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम-विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण श्लोकान्
not
:
Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)
तस्यfor him/of him
तस्य:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन
दुर्लभम्hard to obtain
दुर्लभम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootदुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective) किंचित्-शब्दस्य
किञ्चित्anything
किञ्चित्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थ (something/anything)
भक्तःa devotee
भक्तः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootभक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √भज् क्त)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used as noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
चेत्if
चेत्:
Hetu/Upapatti (हेतु/उपपत्ति)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootचेत् (अव्यय)
Formशर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional particle: if)
मुच्यतेis liberated/released
मुच्यते:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootमुच् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: is released)
दृढम्firmly, surely
दृढम्:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootदृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formक्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

Suta Goswami

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Significance: Promises siddhi-like attainments and, for the steadfast bhakta, mokṣa—framing recitation as a grace-bearing practice accessible beyond pilgrimage.

Type: stotra

Role: liberating

S
Shiva

FAQs

The verse teaches that sincere devotion expressed through pranama (reverent surrender) or disciplined recitation of Śruti-aligned hymns brings both worldly fulfillment and, more importantly, firm liberation by Shiva’s grace.

Bowing and reciting sacred verses are core acts of Saguna Shiva worship—approaching Shiva through form, mantra, and reverence—by which the devotee’s bondage is loosened and the path to realizing Shiva as the supreme Pati is secured.

Regular recitation (pāṭha) of the praised verses and physical or inner pranama (humble surrender) are recommended; these can be paired with daily Shiva upāsanā such as mantra-japa (e.g., Panchakshara) and worshipful remembrance.