Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 26

विभूतिविस्तरप्रश्नः / Inquiry into the Expansion of Śiva’s Vibhūti

Devanagari script

महर्षेर्ज्ञानलाभश्च पुत्रलाभश्च शंकरात् । य इदं कीर्तयेन्नित्यं शृणुयाच्छ्रावयेत्तथा

Transliteration

maharṣerjñānalābhaśca putralābhaśca śaṃkarāt | ya idaṃ kīrtayennityaṃ śṛṇuyācchrāvayettathā

Translation

由圣羯罗（Śaṅkara，湿婆）之恩，大圣仙得获真实之智，亦蒙赐得一子。凡恒常诵此者，凡聆听此者，或令他人得闻者，亦同得此神圣果报。

Word by Word

• महर्षेः: of the great sage
• महर्षेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• ज्ञानलाभः: attainment of knowledge
• ज्ञानलाभः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान + लाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa: 'ज्ञानस्य लाभः'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• पुत्रलाभः: attainment of a son
• पुत्रलाभः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र + लाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('पुत्रस्य लाभः'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• शंकरात्: from Śaṅkara
• शंकरात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative pronoun)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कीर्तयेत्: should recite / praise
• कीर्तयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्तय् (धातु; कीर्त् + णिच्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषणवत् (used adverbially); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (accusative of time/extent)

• शृणुयात्: should listen
• शृणुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्रावयेत्: should cause (others) to hear / should recite to others
• श्रावयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

• तथा: likewise / thus
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga episode; it states a general phalaśruti: Śaṅkara grants jñāna (liberating insight) and also laukika-anugraha such as putra-lābha to a mahārṣi; the same merit accrues to reciters/listeners.

Significance: Frames śravaṇa–kīrtana as a portable ‘tīrtha’: regular recitation/hearing yields both spiritual illumination and worldly welfare, culminating (implicitly) in Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares a phala-śruti: Śiva grants both jñāna (liberating insight) and worldly welfare, and the merit extends to those who recite, listen, and share the teaching—affirming śravaṇa-kīrtana as a direct means to grace.

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

By naming Śaṅkara as the giver of boons, it supports Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva as the compassionate Lord who responds to remembrance, recitation, and hearing, which commonly accompany Liṅga-pūjā and Purāṇic kathā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular recitation (kīrtana/pāṭha) and attentive listening (śravaṇa) to Śiva-kathā; as a practical takeaway, one may pair this with daily “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” japa before or after reading/hearing the Purāṇa.