Shloka 17

Śravaṇa–Kīrtana–Manana: Definitions and Hierarchy of Śaiva Sādhanā (श्रवणकीर्तनमनन-निरूपणम्)

Devanagari script

पुराहमथ संभ्रांतो ह्यन्यसाधनसंभ्रमः । अचले मंदरे शैले तपश्चरणमाचरम्

Transliteration

purāhamatha saṃbhrāṃto hyanyasādhanasaṃbhramaḥ | acale maṃdare śaile tapaścaraṇamācaram

Translation

กาลก่อน ข้าพเจ้าหลงสับสนด้วยความวุ่นวายในการแสวงหาสาธนะอื่น จึงไปยังเขามันทระอันมั่นคงไม่หวั่นไหว และบำเพ็ญตบะที่นั่น

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• संभ्रान्तः: confused/agitated
• संभ्रान्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + भ्रम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त-क्त (past participle, active sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; agrees with अहम्

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/causal)

• अन्यसाधनसंभ्रमः: one bewildered about other means (of practice)
• अन्यसाधनसंभ्रमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + साधन (प्रातिपदिक) + संभ्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: अन्यं साधनं यस्य/अन्यसाधने संभ्रमः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; apposition to अहम्

• अचले: on/in (the) immovable (mountain)
• अचले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; used as place-name/descriptor

• मन्दरे: on Mount Mandara
• मन्दरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative

• शैले: on the mountain
• शैले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; object of आचरम्

• चरणम्: practice/performance
• चरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक) < चर् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; object of आचरम्

• आचरम्: I practiced/performed
• आचरम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Brahmā (narrating his earlier quest for the supreme means, within Sūta’s overarching narration)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Mandara (Mountain)

FAQs

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

It shows that restless experimentation with “other means” (anya-sādhana) culminates in disciplined tapas, preparing the seeker for Shiva’s grace—Pati (Shiva) alone ultimately liberates the bound soul (paśu) from bondage (pāśa).

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

By admitting confusion in alternative pursuits and turning to austerity, the narrative sets the ground for receiving Shiva’s revelation, which in the Vidyeśvara context commonly culminates in establishing devotion to Saguna Shiva and Linga-upāsanā as an accessible, grace-filled path.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steadfast tapas with focused mind—ideally supported by Shaiva disciplines such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with purity and restraint; external aids like bhasma and rudrākṣa may accompany it where taught in the surrounding context.