Shloka 18

पुराणश्रवणप्रस्तावः

Prologue to the Recitation of the Śaiva Purāṇa

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । साध्यं शिवपदप्राप्तिः साधनं तस्य सेवनम् । साधकस्तत्प्रसादाद्योऽनित्यादिफलनिःस्पृहः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | sādhyaṃ śivapadaprāptiḥ sādhanaṃ tasya sevanam | sādhakastatprasādādyo'nityādiphalaniḥspṛhaḥ

Translation

బ్రహ్ముడు పలికెను— సాధ్యము శివపదప్రాప్తి; దానికి సాధనము ఆయన సేవాభక్తి. నిజమైన సాధకుడు, ఆయన కృపవల్ల, అనిత్యమైన మరియు ఇతర తక్కువ ఫలాల పట్ల ఆశలేనివాడవుతాడు.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• साध्यम्: the goal (to be accomplished)
• साध्यम्: Pradhāna (विधेय/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• शिवपदप्राप्तिः: attainment of Śiva’s state/abode
• शिवपदप्राप्तिः: Pradhāna (विधेय/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + पद + प्राप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—शिवस्य पदम् इति शिवपदम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तस्य प्राप्तिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• साधनम्: the means
• साधनम्: Pradhāna (विधेय/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय

• तस्य: of that/of it
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• सेवनम्: service/worship
• सेवनम्: Pradhāna (विधेय/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘सेवा’ (service/worship)

• साधकः: the practitioner
• साधकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-पूर्वपदत्वेन (in compound), एकवचन; ‘प्रसाद’ इति विशेषण-पूर्वपदम्

• प्रसादात्: from grace/favor
• प्रसादात्: Apādāna (अपादान/पञ्चमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• अनित्यादिफलनिःस्पृहः: free from desire for impermanent and other fruits
• अनित्यादिफलनिःस्पृहः: Karta (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनित्य + आदि + फल + निःस्पृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—अनित्य-आदि (अनित्यं चादि च) + फल (कर्मफल) + निःस्पृह (स्पृहावर्जित) → ‘अनित्यादि-फल-निःस्पृहः’

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: As this is in the Viśveśvara-saṃhitā, the teaching is framed around Kāśī’s Viśveśvara/Viśvanātha: Śiva’s ‘pada’ is approached through sevā-bhakti and His prasāda, rather than through merely transient karmaphala.

Significance: Darśana and sevā oriented to ‘Śivapada’ (mokṣa/śivānubhava), cultivating niḥspṛhatā (dispassion toward anitya-phala).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It defines the Shaiva path clearly: the highest aim is Śivapada (union with/attainment of Śiva’s state), and the effective means is loving service (sevana). A genuine seeker is recognized by vairāgya—freedom from craving for temporary rewards—arising through Śiva’s grace.

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

“Sevana” directly supports Saguna worship—serving Śiva through Linga-pūjā, mantra-japa, and daily devotion—by which the mind is purified and led toward the supreme reality of Śiva (Śivapada).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is steady Śiva-sevā: regular Linga worship with mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), performed without bargaining for worldly fruits, cultivating desirelessness and reliance on Śiva’s grace.