Shloka 181

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

श्रावयेद्वा द्विजान् भक्त्या ब्रह्मलोकं स गच्छति मानसैर्वाचिकैः पापैस् तथा वै कायिकैः पुनः

Transliteration

śrāvayedvā dvijān bhaktyā brahmalokaṃ sa gacchati mānasairvācikaiḥ pāpais tathā vai kāyikaiḥ punaḥ

Translation

अथ वा भक्त्या द्विजान् श्रावयेत्, स ब्रह्मलोकं गच्छति। मानसैर्वाचिकैः कायिकैश्च पापैः पुनः शुद्ध्यति; एषा शैवी श्रवण-पाठक्रिया पशोः पाशं शिथिलयित्वा पतिशिवाभिमुखं करोति॥

Word by Word

• श्रावयेत् (śrāvayet): should cause to hear/recite to

• वा (vā): or

• द्विजान् (dvijān): the twice-born (brāhmaṇas and other Vedic initiates)

• भक्त्या (bhaktyā): with devotion

• ब्रह्मलोकम् (brahmalokam): the world of Brahmā (Brahmaloka)

• स (sa): he

• गच्छति (gacchati): goes/attains

• मानसैः (mānasaiḥ): mental (by mind)

• वाचिकैः (vācikaiḥ): verbal (by speech)

• पापैः (pāpaiḥ): sins/impurities

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• वै (vai): indeed

• कायिकैः (kāyikaiḥ): bodily (by action)

• पुनः (punaḥ): again/furthermore

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya; phala-śruti style passage)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It elevates Śaiva śravaṇa (devotional listening) and śrāvaṇa (making others hear) as a meritorious act: sharing the Purāṇic Śiva-teaching with qualified listeners becomes a form of worship that yields exalted results such as Brahmaloka and inner purification.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva-tattva is implied as the liberating power behind the teaching: by devotion-centered hearing/recitation, the paśu’s impurities (pāpa as bondage) are weakened, orienting consciousness toward Pati, the sovereign Lord who grants purity and higher states.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Śravaṇa and pāṭha (listening/recitation) and śrāvaṇa (teaching or arranging recitation for dvijas) are highlighted as a practical sādhana—an accessible discipline aligned with Pāśupata intent: cleansing mental, verbal, and bodily faults.