Shloka 39

पुराणविदः महिमा तथा अध्ययन-अध्यापन-दानफलम्

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

Devanagari script

यज्ञैर्दानैस्तपोभिस्तु यत्फलं तीर्थसेवया । तत्फलम समवाप्नोति पुराणश्रवणान्नरः

Transliteration

yajñairdānaistapobhistu yatphalaṃ tīrthasevayā | tatphalama samavāpnoti purāṇaśravaṇānnaraḥ

Translation

祭祀（ヤジュニャ）、布施、苦行、そして聖地への奉仕によって得られるいかなる功徳も、その同じ果報を、人はプラーナの聴聞によって得る。

Word by Word

• यज्ञैः: by sacrifices
• यज्ञैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• दानैः: by gifts/charity
• दानैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• तपोभिः: by austerities
• तपोभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/समुच्चयार्थ-व्यतिरेकार्थ — Indeclinable particle (emphasis/contrast)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular (relative pronoun qualifying फलम्)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular

• तीर्थ-सेवया: by service to pilgrimage places
• तीर्थ-सेवया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन — Feminine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तीर्थस्य सेवा)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular (demonstrative qualifying फलम्)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• समवाप्नोति: attains/obtains
• समवाप्नोति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अव-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Present indicative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• पुराण-श्रवणात्: from hearing the Purāṇa(s)
• पुराण-श्रवणात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन — Neuter, Ablative (5th), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पुराणस्य श्रवणम्)

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Generalized tīrtha-sevā merit is declared equivalent to Purāṇa-śravaṇa; no single jyotirliṅga is singled out, but the statement implicitly universalizes pilgrimage-fruit through kathā.

Significance: Positions Purāṇa-śravaṇa as a portable ‘inner pilgrimage’ yielding the same puṇya as yajña/dāna/tapas/tīrtha-sevā.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It elevates śravaṇa (devout listening) of the Purāṇa as a direct, accessible means to attain the same puṇya as major Vedic rites, charity, austerity, and pilgrimage—supporting a bhakti-centered path aligned with Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

Purāṇa-śravaṇa nurtures devotion and right understanding of Saguna Shiva’s līlā and worship (including Linga-upāsanā), making inner reverence and faith mature—often presented as equal in fruit to external ritual acts.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Shiva Purana śravaṇa (listening/recitation) with श्रद्धा, ideally alongside simple Shaiva observances such as japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and maintaining purity and devotion during the hearing.