Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42

शङ्खचूडस्य मायायुद्धं तथा माहेश्वरास्त्रप्रभावः | Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Māyā-Warfare and the Power of the Māheśvara Astra

Devanagari script

इदमाख्यानमतुलं सर्वोपद्रवनाशनम् । परमज्ञानजननं शिवभक्तिविवर्द्धनम्

Transliteration

idamākhyānamatulaṃ sarvopadravanāśanam | paramajñānajananaṃ śivabhaktivivarddhanam

Translation

इदमाख्यानमतुलं सर्वोपद्रवनाशनम् । परमज्ञानजननं शिवभक्तिविवर्द्धनम् ॥

Word by Word

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (आख्यानस्य)

• आख्यानम्: narrative / account
• आख्यानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अतुलम्: incomparable
• अतुलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (आख्यानस्य)

• सर्वोपद्रवनाशनम्: destroyer of all calamities
• सर्वोपद्रवनाशनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-उपद्रव-नाशन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषाम् उपद्रवानाम् नाशनम्)

• परमज्ञानजननम्: producer of supreme knowledge
• परमज्ञानजननम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम-ज्ञान-जनन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः: परमं ज्ञानं जनयति इति

• शिवभक्तिविवर्द्धनम्: increaser of devotion to Śiva
• शिवभक्तिविवर्द्धनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव-भक्ति-विवर्द्धन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवभक्तेः विवर्द्धनम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Positions Śiva-kathā as a remedial and liberative śāstra: it destroys upadravas (bondage’s symptoms) and generates parama-jñāna, culminating in strengthened Śiva-bhakti.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares that hearing or recounting this Śaiva narrative is itself a purifying sādhanā: it removes worldly afflictions and awakens parama-jñāna (liberating insight), culminating in stronger śiva-bhakti—the direct means to Śiva’s grace.

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

By praising the ‘ākhyāna’ as devotion-enhancing, the verse supports Saguna upāsanā—approaching Śiva through accessible forms and stories (including Liṅga worship), which steady the mind and mature into deeper knowledge and inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa and kīrtana—listening to and reciting Śiva-kathā—supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") as a daily discipline to cultivate bhakti and clarity of knowledge.