Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7

शिवविहारवर्णनम् (Śivavihāra-varṇana) — “Description of Śiva’s Divine Pastimes/Sojourn”

Devanagari script

श्रूयतां कथयाम्यद्य कथां पापप्रणाशिनीम् । यां श्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते मानवो ध्रुवम्

Transliteration

śrūyatāṃ kathayāmyadya kathāṃ pāpapraṇāśinīm | yāṃ śrutvā sarvapāpebhyo mucyate mānavo dhruvam

Translation

سنو—آج میں گناہوں کو مٹانے والی پاکیزہ کتھا بیان کرتا ہوں۔ اسے سن کر انسان یقیناً تمام گناہوں سے آزاد ہو جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• श्रूयताम्: let (it) be heard
• श्रूयताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; ‘let it be heard’

• कथयामि: I narrate
• कथयामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु; नामधातु from कथा)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb of time)

• कथाम्: a story
• कथाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पापप्रणाशिनीम्: destroying sins
• पापप्रणाशिनीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप-प्रणाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पापस्य प्रणाशिनी); विशेषणम् (qualifying कथाम्)

• याम्: which
• याम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun referring to कथाम्)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having heard’

• सर्वपापेभ्यः: from all sins
• सर्वपापेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative-source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (सर्वाणि पापानि)

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• मानवः: a human being
• मानवः: Karta (कर्ता; logical subject of passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ध्रुवम्: surely
• ध्रुवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुवम् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक (adverb of certainty)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific (sthala) passage; it functions as a phalaśruti-style invitation: śravaṇa (hearing) of Śiva-kathā itself is framed as purifying and liberating.

Significance: Establishes śravaṇa of Śiva Purāṇa as a merit-generating, pāpa-kṣaya practice leading toward release from bondage.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches the Shaiva principle of śravaṇa (devout hearing): receiving Shiva-centered kathā with faith purifies pāpa and turns the mind toward grace (anugraha), preparing one for liberation.

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

The verse frames kathā-śravaṇa as a primary devotion to Saguna Shiva—approaching the Lord through His names, deeds, and glory—supporting Linga worship by strengthening bhakti and inner purity required for effective pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular kathā-śravaṇa/paṭhana (hearing/recitation) with devotion—ideally alongside simple Shiva upāsanā such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and mindful remembrance of Shiva.