Shloka 38

Śiva-jñāna and the Non-dual Vision of a Śiva-maya Universe (शिवज्ञानम्—सर्वं शिवमयम्)

Devanagari script

इति मे विविधं वाक्यमृषीणां च समागतैः । निश्चित्य कथितं विप्रा धिया धार्यं प्रयत्नतः

Transliteration

iti me vividhaṃ vākyamṛṣīṇāṃ ca samāgataiḥ | niścitya kathitaṃ viprā dhiyā dhāryaṃ prayatnataḥ

Translation

ดังนี้ เราได้กล่าวถ้อยคำหลากหลายนี้ หลังจากพิจารณาร่วมกับเหล่าฤๅษีผู้มาชุมนุมแล้ว โอพราหมณ์ทั้งหลาย จงยึดไว้ให้มั่นในปัญญาด้วยความเพียร

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्ति-सूचक (quotative particle)

• me: my/of me
• me: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• vividham: various/manifold
• vividham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• vākyam: statement/speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ṛṣīṇām: of the sages
• ṛṣīṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• samāgataiḥ: by those assembled
• samāgataiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘assembled/come together’

• niścitya: having ascertained
• niścitya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-ści (श्चि/चि धातु; ‘to determine’)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive): ‘having ascertained/decided’

• kathitam: has been stated
• kathitam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kath (कथ् धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); ‘told/said’

• viprāḥ: O brāhmaṇas
• viprāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• dhiyā: with intellect
• dhiyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• dhāryam: should be retained (in mind)
• dhāryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धृ धातु)
• Form: णीयत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligation), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be held/kept in mind’

• prayatnataḥ: earnestly/with effort
• prayatnataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prayatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘with effort/earnestly’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames the teaching as a consensus of sages and to be firmly retained—supporting śravaṇa-manana-nididhyāsana as the inner ‘pilgrimage’ of assimilation.

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śravaṇa (listening) followed by niścaya (clear ascertainment) and dhāraṇā (retention): Shiva’s teachings become fruitful when the seeker firmly holds them in the intellect and lives them with steady effort.

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

Kotirudra Saṃhitā commonly teaches devotion through sacred narratives and tīrtha-mahātmyas; this verse functions as a directive to internalize those instructions so that external worship of the Liṅga matures into stable, faithful practice and inner orientation to Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is disciplined remembrance: regularly recite and contemplate Shiva-teachings (including japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and retain them with steady effort as a daily vrata-like discipline.