Shloka 20

Devanagari script

कथयामि शिवेनोक्तं भक्तियुक्तस्य तेऽनघ । शिवस्य ब्रह्मरूपत्वान्निष्कलत्वाच्च निष्कलम्

Transliteration

kathayāmi śivenoktaṃ bhaktiyuktasya te'nagha | śivasya brahmarūpatvānniṣkalatvācca niṣkalam

Translation

اے بےگناہ! میں تمہیں وہ بات سناتا ہوں جو بھکتی سے یُکت بھکت کے لیے خود شِو نے کہی—شِو برہمن کے سَروپ اور نِشکل (بےجزو) ہیں، اس لیے وہ پرم تَتّو بھی نِشکل ہی ہے۔

Word by Word

• कथयामि: I tell / I narrate
• कथयामि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• शिवेन: by Śiva
• शिवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• उक्तम्: said / spoken
• उक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (singular)

• भक्तियुक्तस्य: of (one) endowed with devotion
• भक्तियुक्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: भक्त्या युक्तः), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन (singular)

• अनघ: O sinless one
• अनघ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (singular)

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• ब्रह्मरूपत्वात्: because of (his) being of the nature/form of Brahman
• ब्रह्मरूपत्वात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + रूप + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः रूपम्) + त्व-प्रत्यय (abstract noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (singular)

• निष्कलत्वात्: because of (his) partless nature
• निष्कलत्वात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्कल + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्व-प्रत्ययान्त (abstract noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• निष्कलम्: partless (attribute)
• निष्कलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Articulates Śiva as Brahman (brahmarūpa) and niṣkala (partless), a key metaphysical claim supporting liberation through knowledge and grace; in pilgrimage theology, such jñāna is treated as the highest fruit beyond mere merit.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva, realized through bhakti, is ultimately Brahman—undivided and beyond parts (niṣkala), pointing to liberation through knowing Śiva as the supreme, non-dual reality.

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

While devotees may worship Śiva with form (saguṇa) such as the Liṅga, this verse clarifies the inner truth: the object of worship is the same Śiva who is ultimately formless and partless (niṣkala), beyond all limiting attributes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate bhakti while meditating on Śiva as niṣkala—supporting practices include japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplative worship of the Liṅga with the understanding of Śiva’s formless Brahman-nature.