Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 50

शिवपुराण-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Śiva Purāṇa) / Śivapurāṇa Māhātmya

Devanagari script

कोटिरुद्र सहस्राद्यं कोटिरुद्रं तथैव च । वायवीयं धर्मसंज्ञं पुराणमिति भेदतः

Transliteration

koṭirudra sahasrādyaṃ koṭirudraṃ tathaiva ca | vāyavīyaṃ dharmasaṃjñaṃ purāṇamiti bhedataḥ

Translation

विभाग के अनुसार यह ‘धर्म’ नामक वायवीय पुराण कहा गया है; और इसे सहस्र-कोटिरुद्र आदि से आरम्भ होने वाले कोटिरुद्र-भेद के रूप में भी गिना जाता है।

Word by Word

• कोटिरुद्र: Koṭirudra (name)
• कोटिरुद्र: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि+रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध): कोट्या रुद्रः/कोटिरुद्रः (name)

• सहस्राद्यम्: beginning with ‘Sahasra’ (thousand etc.)
• सहस्राद्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र+आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष: सहस्रादि (beginning with thousand)

• कोटिरुद्रम्: Koṭirudra (name)
• कोटिरुद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि+रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (नाम)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ (also)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (indeed/just)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वायवीयम्: Vāyavīya (name)
• वायवीयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायवीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (पुराणनाम)

• धर्मसंज्ञम्: having the designation ‘Dharma’
• धर्मसंज्ञम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म+संज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष: धर्म इति संज्ञा यस्य (called ‘Dharma’)

• पुराणम्: Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इति: thus (called)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थ (quotative)

• भेदतः: by classification/distinction
• भेदतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; पञ्चमी-अर्थे (ablatival adverb): भेदतः = भेदेन/भेदात् (by distinction)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the classification of the Śiva Purāṇa to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Another classificatory note: the Śiva Purāṇa is also known/arranged as Vāyavīya (called ‘Dharma’) and as Koṭirudra (with further gradations such as Sahasrakoṭirudra).

Significance: Emphasizes the Purāṇa’s vastness and Rudra-centric scope; ‘Dharma’ naming frames Śaiva devotion as dharma, while Koṭirudra nomenclature evokes expansive Rudra-manifestations and merits from hearing/reciting.

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vayu

FAQs

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

This verse emphasizes that the Śiva Purāṇa is not merely narrative but a Dharma-śāstra in Purāṇic form—teaching right living and liberation-oriented devotion to Śiva (Pati) through an ordered scriptural classification.

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

By calling the Vāyavīya portion ‘Dharma,’ it frames Saguna Śiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—as a disciplined path of dharma leading toward grace (anugraha) and ultimately mokṣa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to approach Śiva-upāsanā as dharmic sādhana—regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-pūjā with purity, and observances like bhasma-dhāraṇa and Rudrākṣa as supportive disciplines.