Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

प्रधानेषु च यानीह मुख्यानि प्रवदाम्यहम् । यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते मानवः क्षणात्

Transliteration

pradhāneṣu ca yānīha mukhyāni pravadāmyaham | yacchrutvā sarvapāpebhyo mucyate mānavaḥ kṣaṇāt

Translation

ここに説かれる数多の尊き教えのうち、我はいま最勝のものを宣言する—それを聞く者は、たちまち一切の罪より解き放たれる。

Word by Word

• प्रधानेषु: among the principal (ones)
• प्रधानेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी बहुवचन (Locative Plural)

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

• यानि: which
• यानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (relative pronoun)

• इह: here
• इह: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: here)

• मुख्यानि: chief
• मुख्यानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nominative Plural); (यानि/लिङ्गानि इत्यादि विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• प्रवदामि: I declare/tell
• प्रवदामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वाद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative Singular)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (relative pronoun; object of श्रुत्वा)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• सर्वपापेभ्यः: from all sins
• सर्वपापेभ्यः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी बहुवचन (Ablative Plural); कर्मधारयः (‘सर्वाणि पापानि’)

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मानवः: a man/person
• मानवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative Singular)

• क्षणात्: in an instant
• क्षणात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी एकवचन (Ablative Singular); कालवाचक-अपादान (time-from)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Establishes śravaṇa-māhātmya: merely hearing the ‘foremost’ teachings grants immediate pāpa-vimocana—an anugraha-centric framing for the upcoming Jyotirliṅga narration.

Significance: Hearing (śravaṇa) of the principal liṅgas is itself a purificatory act; it prepares the paśu (bound soul) for deeper worship and pilgrimage.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

FAQs

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

It affirms the Shaiva principle of śravaṇa (devout hearing): when the highest Shiva-topics are heard with faith, the mind turns toward Pati (Lord Shiva), and the burden of pāpa is said to fall away swiftly, preparing one for bhakti and liberation.

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

Kotirudrasaṃhitā leads into the glory of Jyotirlingas—Saguna manifestations of Shiva accessible to devotees. The verse introduces that merely hearing these chief teachings and sacred accounts supports purification and strengthens Linga-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is regular śravaṇa of Shiva-kathā—listening to Jyotirlinga māhātmya and Shiva Purana recitation—ideally alongside simple devotion such as japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and mindful worship.