Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 44

स्कन्दसरः (Skandasara) — तीर्थवर्णनम् / Description of the Skandasara Sacred Lake

Devanagari script

अभक्ताय महेशस्य तथा धर्मध्वजाय च । एतच्छ्रुत्या ह्येकवारं भवेत्पापं हि भस्मसात्

Transliteration

abhaktāya maheśasya tathā dharmadhvajāya ca | etacchrutyā hyekavāraṃ bhavetpāpaṃ hi bhasmasāt

Translation

たとえマヘーシャへの帰依なき者であっても、またただ法（ダルマ）の旗を掲げるのみの者であっても、これを一度聴けば、罪はまことに灰と化す。

Word by Word

• अभक्ताय: to a non-devotee
• अभक्ताय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन

• महेशस्य: of Maheśa (Śiva)
• महेशस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: समुच्चय/क्रियाविशेषण (Linking adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• धर्मध्वजाय: to one who bears the banner of dharma (hypocrite)
• धर्मध्वजाय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धर्मस्य ध्वजः/धर्मध्वजः), पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dat.), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्म (Object—‘this [teaching]’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्रुत्या: by hearing
• श्रुत्या: करण (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन — ‘by hearing’

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात — निश्चयार्थ

• एकवारम्: once
• एकवारम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial—frequency)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकवार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (एकं वारम् इति), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग

• भवेत्: would become / would be
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: कर्ता/कर्म (Subject complement—‘sin’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात

• भस्मसात्: to ashes / into ash
• भस्मसात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Result/state)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भस्म + सात् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (भस्म इव/भस्म-भावं सात्), क्रियाविशेषण — ‘to ashes, into ash-state’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches the Shaiva principle that Śiva’s grace works through śravaṇa (devout hearing): even a single sincere hearing of Śiva’s teaching/glory can burn accumulated pāpa like bhasma, preparing the soul (paśu) for purification and liberation.

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

Hearing Śiva’s mahimā is itself a form of worship and a gateway to Saguna devotion—often leading one toward Linga-upāsanā, mantra, and ritual life; the verse highlights that contact with Śiva-kathā can awaken bhakti even where it was absent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Śravaṇa: regularly listen to Śiva Purāṇa recitation or Śiva-stotra/kathā; in practice this is commonly paired with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple Śiva-pūjā to stabilize the purification gained through hearing.