Shloka 42
पुराणविदः महिमा तथा अध्ययन-अध्यापन-दानफलम्
The Glory of the Purāṇa-Knower and the Fruits of Study, Teaching, and Giving
अन्यो न दृष्टस्सुखदो हि मार्गः पुराणमार्गो हि सदा वरिष्ठः । शास्त्रं विना सर्वमिदं न भाति सूर्य्येण हीना इव जीवलोकाः
anyo na dṛṣṭassukhado hi mārgaḥ purāṇamārgo hi sadā variṣṭhaḥ | śāstraṃ vinā sarvamidaṃ na bhāti sūryyeṇa hīnā iva jīvalokāḥ
સાચું સુખ આપતો બીજો માર્ગ દેખાતો નથી; પુરાણમાર્ગ સદા શ્રેષ્ઠ છે. શાસ્ત્ર વિના આ બધું પ્રકાશિત થતું નથી—જેમ સૂર્ય વિના જીવલોકો।
Lord Shiva (teaching Umā/Parvati in the Umāsaṃhitā’s philosophical discourse)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
FAQs
It establishes that lasting happiness and liberation are accessed through the revealed, tradition-tested Purāṇic–Śāstric path under Pati (Shiva); without śāstra, spiritual reality remains unclear, like life without sunlight.
The verse prioritizes śāstra-guided practice: Linga worship and Saguna Shiva devotion bear fruit when performed according to Purāṇic injunctions—right mantra, right attitude (bhakti), and right understanding of Shiva as Pati.
It implies śāstra-based sādhana: regular Shiva-pūjā with mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined observance as taught in the Purāṇas, rather than self-invented methods.