Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 152

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

शिवज्ञानी भवेद्विप्रः शिवेन सह मोदते । श्रावयेच्छिवभक्तांश्च विशेषज्ञो मनीश्वराः

Transliteration

śivajñānī bhavedvipraḥ śivena saha modate | śrāvayecchivabhaktāṃśca viśeṣajño manīśvarāḥ

Translation

Ang isang Brahmin na tunay na nakakakilala kay Śiva ay nagiging tagapagtanto ni Śiva; siya’y nagagalak sa pakikipag-isa kay Śiva. Bilang isang mapanuri at marunong na guro, nararapat din niyang bigkasin at ituro (ang aral na ito) sa mga deboto ni Śiva.

Word by Word

• शिवज्ञानी: a knower of Śiva
• शिवज्ञानी: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + ज्ञानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘शिवस्य ज्ञानी’ = knower of Śiva)

• भवेत्: would become/should become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (भवति) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• विप्रः: a brāhmaṇa/sage
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शिवेन: with Śiva
• शिवेन: Sahakārī/Karaṇa (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सहार्थक उपसर्गवत्/पूर्वपद-निपात; ‘सह’ = with

• मोदते: rejoices
• मोदते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मुद् (हर्षे) (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• श्रावयेत्: should cause to hear / should recite to
• श्रावयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रावय (causative) from √श्रु (श्रवणे) (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त (causative), विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शिवभक्तान्: Śiva-devotees
• शिवभक्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘शिवस्य भक्ताः’ = devotees of Śiva)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• विशेषज्ञः: an expert
• विशेषज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘विशेषं जानाति’ = expert)

• मनीश्वराः: lords among sages / great wise ones
• मनीश्वराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī’s Viśveśvara is traditionally the locus where śravaṇa, adhyayana, and upadeśa to Śiva-bhaktas are extolled; the verse stresses transmission of Śiva-jñāna to qualified devotees.

Significance: Merit of teaching/reciting Śiva-kathā to devotees; cultivation of Śiva-jñāna leading to ‘Śiva-saha modate’ (rejoicing in communion).

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 true Śiva-knowledge culminates in joyful communion with Śiva, and that such realized understanding naturally overflows as compassionate teaching for Śiva’s devotees—uniting jñāna and bhakti.

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

In the Vidyeśvara context, Linga and Saguna worship are upheld as accessible supports that mature devotion into Śiva-jnāna; the verse frames the expert teacher as one who guides devotees from ritual hearing and recitation toward direct realization of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa (devotional hearing/recitation) of Śiva-teachings—often paired in this tradition with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined worship, so that devotion ripens into steady Śiva-awareness.