Shloka 23

पुराणश्रवणप्रस्तावः

Prologue to the Recitation of the Śaiva Purāṇa

Devanagari script

इति श्रुतिप्रमाणं नः साधनेनाऽमुना परम् । साध्यं व्रजत सर्वार्थसाधनैकपरायणाः

Transliteration

iti śrutipramāṇaṃ naḥ sādhanenā'munā param | sādhyaṃ vrajata sarvārthasādhanaikaparāyaṇāḥ

Translation

یوں ہمارے لیے شُرُتی (وید) ہی دلیل و سند ہے؛ اسی سادھنا کے ذریعے پرم سادھْی کی طرف بڑھو۔ جو سب مقاصد پورے کرنے والی ایک ہی سادھنا میں کامل طور پر پرایَن ہیں، وہ اسی میں مشغول رہیں۔

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• श्रुतिप्रमाणम्: scriptural authority; proof from śruti
• श्रुतिप्रमाणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति-प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः तत्पुरुषः (श्रुतेः प्रमाणम् = scriptural authority)

• नः: our
• नः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural) — enclitic pronoun

• साधनेन: by the means; by this practice
• साधनेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular) — instrumental ‘by means’

• अमुना: by this (one)
• अमुना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (Masc/Neut), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular) — instrumental pronoun ‘by this’

• परम्: supreme; highest
• परम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular) — used adverbially ‘supremely’/or as object ‘the highest’

• साध्यम्: the goal to be achieved
• साध्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्य (कृदन्त; √साध्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); भाव्य/कर्तव्य-अर्थक (to be accomplished)

• व्रजत: go; proceed
• व्रजत: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• सर्वार्थसाधनैकपरायणाः: you who are solely devoted to accomplishing all aims
• सर्वार्थसाधनैकपरायणाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-अर्थ-साधन-एक-परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); बहुव्रीहिः (ये सर्वार्थसाधने एकपरायणाः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The verse belongs to the Viśveśvara section that upholds Śruti as pramāṇa and directs the seeker to the supreme sādhya through a single-pointed upāya; this aligns with Kāśī-viśveśvara as the locus where śravaṇa/manana and Śiva’s anugraha are emphasized for mokṣa.

Significance: Śruti-pramāṇa and ekāgratā in sādhana are framed as the direct means to the paramasādhya; pilgrimage is traditionally linked with jñāna-bhakti leading to liberation by Śiva’s grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms Śruti as the final authority and teaches that one-pointed Shiva-sādhana, pursued steadily, leads to the supreme attain­ment (union with Pati and release from pāśa).

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

By emphasizing a single, all-accomplishing means, it supports focused Saguna worship—such as Linga-upāsanā—as a complete path that culminates in realization of Shiva’s supreme nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Single-minded adherence to Shiva-sādhana—classically centered on mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) along with disciplined worship—rather than scattering effort across many practices.