Shloka 31

Devanagari script

अधीत्य यो द्विजो वेदं ब्रह्मज्ञानं शिवात्मकम् । यदि त्यजति यो मूढः सुरापानस्य तत्समम्

Transliteration

adhītya yo dvijo vedaṃ brahmajñānaṃ śivātmakam | yadi tyajati yo mūḍhaḥ surāpānasya tatsamam

Translation

ವೇದವನ್ನು ಅಧ್ಯಯನಮಾಡಿ—ಅದರ ತಾತ್ಪರ್ಯ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಜ್ಞಾನ, ಅದರ ಸಾರ ಶಿವಸ್ವರೂಪ—ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿದ ದ್ವಿಜನು ಮೋಹದಿಂದ ಅದನ್ನು ತ್ಯಜಿಸಿದರೆ, ಅವನ ಪಾಪವು ಸುರಾಪಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಸಮಾನವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ।

Word by Word

अधीत्यhaving studied

यःwho

द्विजःa Brahmin

वेदम्the Veda

ब्रह्मज्ञानम्knowledge of Brahman

शिवात्मकम्of the nature of Śiva

यदिif

त्यजतिabandons

यःwho

मूढःdeluded/foolish

सुरापानस्यof drinking liquor

तत्समम्equal to that

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; the verse interprets Veda’s purport as brahmajñāna ‘śivātmakam’, aligning scriptural study with Śiva-centric jñāna and condemning its abandonment.

Significance: Frames Vedic learning as a means toward Śiva-realization; abandoning svādhyāya/vedānta is treated as a grave fall that blocks liberating knowledge.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

Shiva

FAQs

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

It asserts that the Veda’s inner purport is Śiva as Brahman (Pati) and that rejecting this realized Shiva-centered wisdom after studying it is a grave spiritual downfall, obstructing liberation.

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

By declaring the Veda to be śivātmaka (Śiva in essence), it supports Saguna Śiva-upāsanā—such as Linga worship—as a legitimate Vedic-aligned means to internalize Brahman-knowledge centered on Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steadiness in Shiva-oriented sādhanā: continue japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and uphold Vedic-Śaiva conduct rather than abandoning the path after learning its truth.