Shloka 25
शिवपुराण-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Śiva Purāṇa) / Śivapurāṇa Māhātmya
एतच्छिवपुराणं वै लिखित्वा पुस्तकं स्वयम् । यो दद्याच्छिवभक्तेभ्यस्तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु
etacchivapurāṇaṃ vai likhitvā pustakaṃ svayam | yo dadyācchivabhaktebhyastasya puṇyaphalaṃ śṛṇu
ആരെങ്കിലും ഈ ശിവപുരാണം സ്വയം എഴുതി ഗ്രന്ഥമാക്കി ശിവഭക്തർക്കു ദാനം ചെയ്താൽ, അവനു ലഭിക്കുന്ന പുണ്യഫലം കേൾക്കുക.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Text-dāna is presented as a high meritorious act: personally copying the Śiva Purāṇa and gifting it to Śiva-bhaktas spreads the liberating teaching-current associated with Viśveśvara; the ‘listen to its fruit’ introduces an extended phalaśruti on śāstra-dāna.
Significance: Promotes transmission of Śaiva dharma through manuscript culture; merit accrues by enabling others’ śravaṇa/pāṭha—an indirect but powerful participation in Śiva’s grace.
Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that śāstra-sevā (serving Shiva’s scripture) through writing and gifting supports devotion (bhakti) and becomes a powerful source of puṇya, orienting the giver toward Shiva-centered living and liberation.
By ensuring Shiva’s teachings reach Shiva-bhaktas, the verse strengthens Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—because the Purana transmits proper methods, vows, and attitudes for devoted practice.
The direct practice is dharma-dāna: copying (likhana) and donating the Shiva Purana to Shiva devotees; it can be paired with simple bhakti such as reciting “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while writing or gifting.