Shloka 22

भस्म–रुद्राक्ष–शिवनाममाहात्म्य

The Greatness of Bhasma, Rudrākṣa, and the Name of Śiva

Devanagari script

वच्म्यहं नाम माहात्म्यं यथाभक्ति समासतः । शृणुत प्रीतितो विप्राः सर्वपापहरं परम्

Transliteration

vacmyahaṃ nāma māhātmyaṃ yathābhakti samāsataḥ | śṛṇuta prītito viprāḥ sarvapāpaharaṃ param

Translation

ഇപ്പോൾ ഭക്തിയനുസരിച്ച് സംക്ഷിപ്തമായി ദിവ്യ നാമത്തിന്റെ മഹിമ ഞാൻ പറയുന്നു; ഹേ വിപ്ര ഋഷിമാരേ, പ്രീതിയോടെ കേൾക്കുവിൻ—അത് പരമോപദേശം, സർവ്വപാപഹരം।

Word by Word

• वच्मि: I speak
• वच्मि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; “I speak”

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Pronoun nominative singular

• नाम: indeed/namely
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphasis/particle “indeed/namely”

• माहात्म्यम्: the greatness (glory)
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• यथा-भक्ति: according to devotion
• यथा-भक्ति: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; adverb “according to devotion/one’s capacity of devotion”

• समासतः: briefly
• समासतः: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समासतः (अव्यय; समास-शब्दात्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; adverb “briefly/in summary”

• शृणुत: listen
• शृणुत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), बहुवचन; “hear (you all)”

• प्रीतितः: with delight
• प्रीतितः: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; adverb “with affection/joyfully”

• विप्राः: O brāhmaṇas
• विप्राः: Sambodhana/Karta (सम्बोधन/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• सर्व-पाप-हरम्: removing all sins
• सर्व-पाप-हरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular qualifying माहात्म्यम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः “सर्वेषां पापानां हरम्”

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular qualifying माहात्म्यम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: As this is in the Viśveśvara-saṃhitā, the teaching naturally resonates with Kāśī Viśveśvara: Śiva’s saving grace is accessed through nāma-smaraṇa; the Name is presented as a direct, universally available upāya (means) that burns sin and turns the bound soul toward liberation.

Significance: Nāma-śravaṇa and nāma-japa are framed as supreme purifiers; hearing with devotion is itself meritorious and prepares the soul for Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes nāma (the Divine Name of Shiva) as a supreme, purifying upāya: heard with devotion, it burns sins and turns the mind toward Shiva, the Pati who grants liberation.

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

The verse frames devotion as listening and remembering Shiva’s Name—an accessible form of Saguna worship that supports Linga-upāsanā by keeping awareness fixed on Shiva’s presence and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Śravaṇa (devotional listening) and japa of Shiva’s Name—especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—performed with prīti (loving attention).