Shloka 40

Yatinātha-līlā: Śiva’s Test of the Bhilla Devotees at Arbuda Mountain

Devanagari script

इदमाख्यानमनघं सर्वकामफलप्रदम् । स्वर्ग्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं भक्तिवर्धनमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

idamākhyānamanaghaṃ sarvakāmaphalapradam | svargyaṃ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṃ bhaktivardhanamuttamam

Translation

ഹേ നിർമലനേ, ഈ പവിത്ര ആഖ്യാനം എല്ലാ ധാർമ്മിക ആഗ്രഹങ്ങളുടെയും ഫലം നൽകുന്നു. ഇത് സ്വർഗ്ഗീയ പുണ്യം, യശസ്സ്, ദീർഘായുസ്സ് നൽകുകയും, അത്യുത്തമമായി ശിവഭക്തി വർധിപ്പിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു.

Word by Word

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• ākhyānam: narrative, legend
• ākhyānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; apposition to “idam”

• anagham: sinless, faultless
• anagham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anagha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of “ākhyānam”

• sarva-kāma-phala-pradam: granting the fruits of all desires
• sarva-kāma-phala-pradam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa: “sarveṣāṃ kāmānāṃ phalaṃ dadāti” (gives the fruits of all desires); Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of “ākhyānam”

• svargyam: heavenly, leading to heaven
• svargyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svargya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of “ākhyānam”

• yaśasyam: fame-giving
• yaśasyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yaśasya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of “ākhyānam”

• āyuṣyam: life-promoting, longevity-giving
• āyuṣyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āyuṣya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of “ākhyānam”

• bhakti-vardhanam: increasing devotion
• bhakti-vardhanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + vardhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: “bhakteḥ vardhanam” (increase of devotion / that which increases devotion); Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of “ākhyānam”

• uttamam: excellent, supreme
• uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of “ākhyānam”

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames Śiva-kathā as both bhukti (svarga, yaśas, āyus) and mukti (bhakti-vṛddhi leading toward liberation), a standard Purāṇic pilgrimage-like merit through śravaṇa.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It is a phalaśruti declaring that hearing/reciting this pure Śaiva narrative generates puṇya (heavenly merit) and, most importantly, deepens bhakti toward Pati (Śiva), which is the higher spiritual fruit.

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

By praising the power of Śiva-kathā, the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching Śiva through His forms, names, and stories (including Liṅga worship)—as a direct means to cultivate devotion and merit.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa and pāṭha (devotional listening/recitation) of Śiva Purāṇa kathā, ideally alongside Śiva-smaraṇa and japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” to nourish bhakti.