Shloka 10

Kṛṣṇādi-Śivabhaktoddhāraṇa & Śiva-māhātmya-varṇana

Deliverance of Krishna and other devotees; Description of Shiva’s Greatness

Devanagari script

नवमे तु दिने प्राप्ते मुनिना स च दीक्षितः । मंत्रमध्यापितं शार्वमाथर्वशिरसं महत्

Transliteration

navame tu dine prāpte muninā sa ca dīkṣitaḥ | maṃtramadhyāpitaṃ śārvamātharvaśirasaṃ mahat

Translation

ಒಂಬತ್ತನೇ ದಿನ ಬಂದಾಗ ಮುನಿಯು ಅವನಿಗೆ ವಿಧಿಪೂರ್ವಕ ದೀಕ್ಷೆ ನೀಡಿದನು; ಮತ್ತು ಶಾರ್ವ (ಶಿವಸಂಬಂಧಿ) ಪವಿತ್ರ ಮಂತ್ರವಾದ ಮಹತ್ ಅಥರ್ವಶಿರಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಉಪದೇಶಿಸಿದನು.

Word by Word

• नवमे: on the ninth
• नवमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘नवमे (दिने)’

• तु: indeed/then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/contrast)

• दिने: on the day
• दिने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• प्राप्ते: when (it) had arrived
• प्राप्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राप्त (कृदन्त; प्र-√आप् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी—‘(दिने) प्राप्ते’

• मुनिना: by the sage
• मुनिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• दीक्षितः: initiated
• दीक्षितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीक्षित (कृदन्त; √दिक्ष्/√दीक्ष् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि—‘दीक्षा प्राप्तः’

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अध्यापितम्: taught/caused to be recited
• अध्यापितम्: Karma (कर्म; विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-√आप्/√पठ् (धातु; causative sense ‘to teach’)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त causative + क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; मन्त्रं विशेषयति—‘(मन्त्रं) अध्यापितम्’

• शार्वम्: pertaining to Śarva (Śiva)
• शार्वम्: Karma (कर्म; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शार्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; मन्त्रं विशेषयति

• आथर्वशिरसम्: Ātharvaśiras (Atharvaśiras)
• आथर्वशिरसम्: Karma (कर्म; विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आथर्व + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक); आथर्व-शिरस् (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘अथर्वणः शिरः/शिरसम्’ (name of a text/mantra)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karma (कर्म; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; मन्त्रं विशेषयति

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Ishana

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; the focus is dīkṣā and transmission of Atharvaśiras-linked Śaiva vidyā, a classic Siddhānta marker of grace-mediated liberation.

Significance: Highlights initiation (dīkṣā) as the decisive turning point: entry into Śiva’s mantra-mārga under a qualified guru, leading toward pāśa-kṣaya and mukti.

Mantra Metadata

Type: gayatri

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Śarva
• Muni

FAQs

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

It highlights that Śiva-realization is approached through disciplined preparation and guru-bestowed dīkṣā, after which the seeker receives an authorized Śaiva mantra and its inner meaning—pointing from practice (pāśa-cutting discipline) toward grace (Śiva as Pati).

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

By naming Śarva and a Śaiva mantra-teaching (Atharvaśiras), the verse supports Saguna Śiva-upāsanā—mantra-japa and reverent contemplation—often centered on the Liṅga as the accessible form through which the formless reality is approached.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Receiving dīkṣā from a qualified guru and then practicing regular Śaiva mantra-japa with understanding of its meaning; this is the implied sādhana, which may be accompanied (as taught elsewhere in the Purāṇa) by purity disciplines such as bhasma and rudrākṣa observances.