Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 48

स्कन्दसरः (Skandasara) — तीर्थवर्णनम् / Description of the Skandasara Sacred Lake

Devanagari script

सप्तकृत्वस्तदावृत्त्यालभन्त शिवदर्शनम् । श्रोष्यत्यथापि यश्चेदं मानवो भक्तितत्परः

Transliteration

saptakṛtvastadāvṛttyālabhanta śivadarśanam | śroṣyatyathāpi yaścedaṃ mānavo bhaktitatparaḥ

Translation

ผู้ใดสาธยายเรื่องศักดิ์สิทธิ์นี้เจ็ดครั้ง ย่อมได้ประจักษ์พระศิวะ; และแม้ผู้ที่เพียงสดับด้วยศรัทธาอันแน่วแน่ ก็ย่อมได้รับผลแห่งพระกรุณาเช่นกัน।

Word by Word

• सप्त-कृत्वः: seven times
• सप्त-कृत्वः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛtvas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numerical adverbial): सप्तवारम्; अव्यय (frequency adverb)

• तदा-वृत्त्या: by repetition at that time / by that recurrence
• तदा-वृत्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tadā (अव्यय) + vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (temporal determinative): तदा (तस्मिन् काले) वृत्तिः/आवृत्तिः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अलभन्त: they obtained
• अलभन्त: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• शिव-दर्शनम्: vision of Shiva
• शिव-दर्शनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: शिवस्य दर्शनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• श्रोष्यति: will hear
• श्रोष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरबोधक-अव्यय (sequencing particle)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also/even)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मानवः: a man/person
• मानवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भक्ति-तत्-परः: devotion-focused, devoted
• भक्ति-तत्-परः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative): भक्तौ तत्परः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Śiva-darśana (direct experiential ‘vision’/realization) is promised through repeated śravaṇa–pāṭha; the verse functions as a māhātmya for the Purāṇa itself rather than a single shrine.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s grace is accessible through bhakti-centered practice: repeated contemplation/recitation and devoted listening mature the soul (paśu) toward direct experience (darśana) of Pati, Lord Śiva.

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

“Śiva-darśana” here aligns with Saguna worship: through devotional hearing and repetition, the mind becomes purified and fit to perceive Śiva’s gracious presence—often approached in Purāṇic practice through Liṅga-upāsanā and sacred kathā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Śravaṇa and āvṛtti: listen to the Śiva Purāṇa passage with devotion and repeat/recite it (traditionally seven times) as a focused bhakti-sādhana, supporting steady remembrance of Śiva.