Shloka 2
पुराणविदः महिमा तथा अध्ययन-अध्यापन-दानफलम्
The Glory of the Purāṇa-Knower and the Fruits of Study, Teaching, and Giving
श्रुतेरध्ययनात्पुण्यं यदाप्नोति द्विजोत्तमः । तदध्यापनतश्चापि द्विगुणं फलमश्नुते
śruteradhyayanātpuṇyaṃ yadāpnoti dvijottamaḥ | tadadhyāpanataścāpi dviguṇaṃ phalamaśnute
હે દ્વિજશ્રેષ્ઠ! શ્રુતિના અધ્યયનથી જે પુણ્ય મળે છે, તે જ પુણ્ય અન્યને અધ્યાપન કરવાથી પ્રત્યક્ષ રીતે દ્વિગુણ ફળ આપે છે।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana discourse to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Umāsaṃhitā’s philosophical instruction)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Frames śruti-adhyayana and especially śruti-adhyāpana (teaching) as a merit-multiplier; in Śaiva Siddhānta this aligns with śivajñāna-pradāna (imparting liberating knowledge) as a high form of dharma and service to bound souls (paśu).
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse elevates dāna of knowledge above private learning: studying revelation purifies the seeker, but teaching it multiplies the benefit because it becomes a cause of dharma and inner upliftment in many minds—aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on right knowledge (jñāna) as a support for liberation under Shiva’s grace.
In the Shiva Purana, correct worship of the Linga (Saguna Shiva as the accessible form of the Supreme) is grounded in right scriptural understanding; teaching Śruti-based principles helps preserve proper mantra, ritual orientation, and devotion, preventing worship from becoming merely mechanical.
The implied practice is svādhyāya (scriptural recitation/study) followed by adhyāpana/pravācana (teaching or sharing the teaching). As a Shaiva takeaway, one may pair daily study with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and then transmit the teaching—through discourse, mentoring, or guided recitation—to gain the ‘twofold fruit’ described.