Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 45

गणेशविवाहोत्सवः तथा सिद्धि-बुद्धि-सन्तानवर्णनम् | Gaṇeśa’s Wedding Festival and the Progeny of Siddhi & Buddhi

Devanagari script

श्रवणीयं सदा भक्तैर्निःकामैश्च मुमुक्षुभिः । शिवाद्वैतप्रदं चैतत्सदाशिवमयं शिवम्

Transliteration

śravaṇīyaṃ sadā bhaktairniḥkāmaiśca mumukṣubhiḥ | śivādvaitapradaṃ caitatsadāśivamayaṃ śivam

Translation

ભક્તોએ—નિષ્કામ જનોએ અને મુમુક્ષુઓએ—આનું શ્રવણ સદા કરવું જોઈએ. કારણ કે આ શિવાદ્વૈત બોધ આપે છે અને સ્વયં સદાશિવમય, મંગલકારી શિવસ્વરૂપ છે.

Word by Word

• श्रवणीयम्: to be listened to / worth hearing
• श्रवणीयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रवणीय (कृदन्त; √श्रु धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (gerundive/तव्यत्-अर्थ: ‘should be heard’)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• भक्तैः: by devotees
• भक्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• निःकामैः: desireless
• निःकामैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निःकाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘भक्तैः’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मुमुक्षुभिः: by seekers of liberation
• मुमुक्षुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुमुक्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘मोक्षं इच्छन्ति’ इति (one who desires liberation)

• शिवाद्वैतप्रदम्: granting non-duality of Śiva
• शिवाद्वैतप्रदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + अद्वैत + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समासार्थ: ‘शिवस्य अद्वैतं प्रददाति’ (giving Śiva-nonduality)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (demonstrative pronoun)

• सदाशिवमयम्: consisting of Sadāśiva
• सदाशिवमयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदा + शिव + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सदाशिवेन मयम्’ (consisting of Sadāśiva)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (accusative singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana discourse to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Kumārakhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Defines the proper adhikārin (bhakta, niṣkāma, mumukṣu) and the highest fruit: śiva-advaita realization; in Siddhānta terms, experiential nearness/identity in grace while maintaining Śiva’s transcendence in doctrine.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sadashiva

FAQs

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

It declares śravaṇa (devout listening) of Śiva-kathā as a direct sādhanā for niṣkāma-bhaktas and mumukṣus, because such hearing purifies bonds (pāśa) and culminates in Śiva-advaita—realization of the Lord as the supreme, auspicious Reality (Sadāśiva).

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

By praising “hearing” as Sadāśiva-filled, it supports Saguna upāsanā—listening to the Lord’s names, forms, and deeds (including Liṅga-mahātmya)—as a means that ripens the seeker toward the inner, non-dual recognition of Śiva beyond limitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular śravaṇa of Shiva Purana recitation (kathā-śravaṇa), ideally with niṣkāma intent, supported by japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and simple devotional observances (such as offering water to the Liṅga) to stabilize the mind toward liberation.