Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3

विष्णोर्दर्शनं स्तुतिश्च

Viṣṇu’s Manifestation and Brahmā’s Hymn

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । शृणु नारद सुप्रीत्या चरित्रं शशिमौलिनः । यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण निर्विकारो भवेन्नरः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | śṛṇu nārada suprītyā caritraṃ śaśimaulinaḥ | yasya śravaṇamātreṇa nirvikāro bhavennaraḥ

Translation

برہما نے کہا—اے نارد، خوش دلی اور بھکتی کے ساتھ ششی مَولی (شیو) کا پاکیزہ چرتر سنو۔ جس کے محض سن لینے سے انسان بے تغیر اور ثابت قدم ہو جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• सु-प्रीत्या: with great delight
• सु-प्रीत्या: Karana (करण/Means; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सुन्दरी प्रीतिः)

• चरित्रम्: the story/deeds
• चरित्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शशि-मौलिनः: of the moon-crested one (Śiva)
• शशि-मौलिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशि (प्रातिपदिक) + मौलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (‘शशिः मौलौ यस्य’ = one who has the moon as crest)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative pronoun)

• श्रवण-मात्रेण: by mere hearing
• श्रवण-मात्रेण: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (श्रवणस्य मात्रम् = mere hearing)

• निर्विकारः: unchanged; free from disturbance
• निर्विकारः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् (उपसर्ग) + विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of ‘नरः’)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नरः: a man; person
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Śiva-kathā-śravaṇa is presented as intrinsically purifying—granting nirvikāratā (steadiness), a fruit akin to tīrtha-yātrā merit.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Narada
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that śravaṇa (devout hearing) of Śiva’s caritra is itself a purifying sādhana: it calms vṛttis (mental modifications), loosens bondage (pāśa), and turns the devotee toward Pati (Śiva), resulting in a nirvikāra, steady inner state.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva—“the Moon-crested Lord”—whose divine qualities and deeds are contemplated through Shiva-kathā. Hearing such narration supports Linga-bhakti by deepening devotion, steadiness, and reverence, which then expresses as pūjā, mantra-japa, and temple worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice śravaṇa of Shiva Purana/Shiva-kathā with suprīti (joyful devotion), ideally followed by remembrance and japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to stabilize the mind in a nirvikāra state.