Shloka 31

पुराणविदः महिमा तथा अध्ययन-अध्यापन-दानफलम्

The Glory of the Purāṇa-Knower and the Fruits of Study, Teaching, and Giving

Devanagari script

विशेषतः कलौ व्यास पुराणश्रवणादृते । परो धर्मो न पुंसां हि मुक्तिध्यानपरः स्मृतः

Transliteration

viśeṣataḥ kalau vyāsa purāṇaśravaṇādṛte | paro dharmo na puṃsāṃ hi muktidhyānaparaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

とりわけカリの時代において、ああヴィヤーサよ、プラーナを聴聞することを離れては、人々にこれ以上の高きダルマは想起されない——解脱（モークシャ）を念じて禅観に専心するダルマである。

Word by Word

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (adverb: especially)

• कलौ: in the Kali age
• कलौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन (in Kali age)

• व्यास: O Vyāsa
• व्यास: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (vocative), एकवचन

• पुराण-श्रवणात्: from hearing the Purāṇa
• पुराण-श्रवणात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुराणस्य श्रवणम्)

• ऋते: without / except
• ऋते: Apavāda (अपवाद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऋते (अव्यय)
• Form: अपवाद/वर्जनार्थक-अव्यय (except/without), पञ्चमी-सहयोगी

• परः: higher / supreme
• परः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies धर्मः)

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• पुंसाम्: of men
• पुंसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंस्/पुम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle: indeed)

• मुक्ति-ध्यान-परः: devoted to meditation for liberation
• मुक्ति-ध्यान-परः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मुक्त्यर्थं ध्यानं तस्मिन् परः = devoted to meditation for liberation)

• स्मृतः: is regarded
• स्मृतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थः (is considered/remembered)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing Vyasa within the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vyasa

FAQs

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

It declares that in Kali Yuga, sincere listening to Purāṇic teachings is a foremost dharma because it turns the mind toward mokṣa—steady contemplation on liberation and the Lord as Pati (the liberator).

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

Purāṇa-śravaṇa transmits the glory, forms, and disciplines of Saguna Shiva (including Linga worship), which purifies the soul’s bonds (pāśa) and stabilizes devotion and right understanding that culminate in liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse emphasizes śravaṇa (listening) as a primary practice in Kali Yuga, to be paired with mokṣa-oriented dhyāna—regular contemplation on Shiva’s liberating nature, supported by daily worship as taught in the Purāṇas.