The Greatness of the Purana

Verse 1 (shiva.uma.13.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तपस्तपति योऽरण्ये वन्यमूलफलाशनः । योऽधीते ऋचमेकां हि फलं स्यात्तत्समं मुने

sanatkumāra uvāca tapastapati yo'raṇye vanyamūlaphalāśanaḥ yo'dhīte ṛcamekāṁ hi phalaṁ syāttatsamaṁ mune

Sanatkumara said: O sage, whoever practices austerity in the forest, subsisting on wild roots and fruits, and whoever studies even a single Vedic verse — the fruit of both is equal.

Verse 2 (shiva.uma.13.2)

श्रुतेरध्ययनात्पुण्यं यदाप्नोति द्विजोत्तमः । तदध्यापनतश्चापि द्विगुणं फलमश्नुते

śruteradhyayanātpuṇyaṁ yadāpnoti dvijottamaḥ tadadhyāpanataścāpi dviguṇaṁ phalamaśnute

Whatever merit a foremost twice-born obtains from the study of scripture, he enjoys twice that fruit from also teaching it to others.

Verse 3 (shiva.uma.13.3)

जगद्यथा निरालोकं जायतेऽशशिभास्करम् । विना तथा पुराणं ह्यध्येयमस्मान्मुने सदा

jagadyathā nirālokaṁ jāyate'śaśibhāskaram vinā tathā purāṇaṁ hyadhyeyamasmānmune sadā

O sage, just as the world becomes devoid of light without the moon and sun, so it becomes without the Purana; it is therefore to be studied by us always.

Verse 4 (shiva.uma.13.4)

तप्यमानं सदाज्ञानान्निरये योऽपि शास्त्रतः । सम्बोधयति लोकं तं तस्मात् पूज्यः पुराणगः

tapyamānaṁ sadājñānānniraye yo'pi śāstrataḥ sambodhayati lokaṁ taṁ tasmāt pūjyaḥ purāṇagaḥ

Whoever, through scripture, enlightens people who suffer constantly in the hell of ignorance — for this reason the reciter of the Purana is to be honored.

Verse 5 (shiva.uma.13.5)

सर्वेषां चैव पात्राणां मध्ये श्रेष्ठः पुराणवित् । पतनात् त्रायते यस्मात् तस्मात्पात्रमुदाहृतम्

sarveṣāṁ caiva pātrāṇāṁ madhye śreṣṭhaḥ purāṇavit patanāt trāyate yasmāt tasmātpātramudāhṛtam

Among all worthy recipients, the knower of the Purana is the best; because he saves people from falling into hell, he is declared to be the most worthy recipient.

Verse 6 (shiva.uma.13.6)

मर्त्यबुद्धिर्न कर्तव्या पुराणज्ञे कदाचन । पुराणज्ञः सर्ववेत्ता ब्रह्मा विष्णुर्हरो गुरुः

martyabuddhirna kartavyā purāṇajñe kadācana purāṇajñaḥ sarvavettā brahmā viṣṇurharo guruḥ

One should never regard the knower of the Purana with the notion that he is merely mortal; the knower of the Purana, all-knowing, is as good as Brahma, Vishnu, Hara, and the guru.

Verse 7 (shiva.uma.13.7)

धनं धान्यं हिरण्यं च वासांसि विविधानि च । देयं पुराणविज्ञाय परत्रेह च शर्मणे

dhanaṁ dhānyaṁ hiraṇyaṁ ca vāsāṁsi vividhāni ca deyaṁ purāṇavijñāya paratreha ca śarmaṇe

Wealth, grain, gold, and various garments should be given to the knower of the Purana, for one's own happiness both here and in the world beyond.

Verse 8 (shiva.uma.13.8)

यो ददाति महाप्रीत्या पुराणज्ञाय सज्जनः । पात्राय शुभवस्तूनि स याति परमां गतिम्

yo dadāti mahāprītyā purāṇajñāya sajjanaḥ pātrāya śubhavastūni sa yāti paramāṁ gatim

Whatever good man gives auspicious things with great affection to the knower of the Purana, a worthy recipient, attains the supreme state.

Verse 9 (shiva.uma.13.9)

महीं गां वा स्यन्दनांश्च गजानश्वांश्च शोभनान् । यः प्रयच्छति पात्राय तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु

mahīṁ gāṁ vā syandanāṁśca gajānaśvāṁśca śobhanān yaḥ prayacchati pātrāya tasya puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu

Hear the fruit of merit for one who gives land, a cow, chariots, elephants, and fine horses to a worthy recipient.

Verse 10 (shiva.uma.13.10)

अक्षयान्सर्वकामांश्च परत्रेह च जन्मनि । अश्वमेधमखस्यापि स फलं लभते पुमान्

akṣayānsarvakāmāṁśca paratreha ca janmani aśvamedhamakhasyāpi sa phalaṁ labhate pumān

That man obtains imperishable enjoyment of every desire, both here and in his next birth beyond, and also the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 11 (shiva.uma.13.11)

महीं ददाति यस्तस्मै कृष्टां फलवतीं शुभाम् । स तारयति वै वंश्यान्दश पूर्वान् दशापरान्

mahīṁ dadāti yastasmai kṛṣṭāṁ phalavatīṁ śubhām sa tārayati vai vaṁśyāndaśa pūrvān daśāparān

Whoever gives to him cultivated, fruitful, auspicious land delivers ten generations of ancestors before him and ten after him.

Verse 12 (shiva.uma.13.12)

इह भुक्त्वाखिलान् कामानन्ते दिव्यशरीरवान् । विमानेन च दिव्येन शिवलोकं स गच्छति

iha bhuktvākhilān kāmānante divyaśarīravān vimānena ca divyena śivalokaṁ sa gacchati

Having enjoyed all desires here, at the end, possessed of a divine body, he goes to Shiva's world by a divine celestial chariot.

Verse 13 (shiva.uma.13.13)

न यज्ञैस्तुष्टिमायान्ति देवाः प्रोक्षणकैरपि । बलिभिः पुष्पपूजाभिर्यथा पुस्तकवाचनैः

na yajñaistuṣṭimāyānti devāḥ prokṣaṇakairapi balibhiḥ puṣpapūjābhiryathā pustakavācanaiḥ

The gods do not attain such satisfaction through sacrifices, sprinkling-rites, offerings, or flower-worship, as they do through the recitation of the sacred book.

Verse 14 (shiva.uma.13.14)

शम्भोरायतने यस्तु कारयेद्धर्मपुस्तकम् । विष्णोरर्कस्य कस्यापि शृणु तस्यापि तत्फलम्

śambhorāyatane yastu kārayeddharmapustakam viṣṇorarkasya kasyāpi śṛṇu tasyāpi tatphalam

Hear the fruit for whoever causes a copy of a dharma-scripture to be made and placed in a temple of Shambhu, of Vishnu, of the Sun, or of any other deity.

Verse 15 (shiva.uma.13.15)

राजसूयाश्वमेधानां फलमाप्नोति मानवः । सूर्यलोकं च भित्त्वाशु ब्रह्मलोकं स गच्छति

rājasūyāśvamedhānāṁ phalamāpnoti mānavaḥ sūryalokaṁ ca bhittvāśu brahmalokaṁ sa gacchati

That man obtains the fruit of the Rajasuya and Ashvamedha sacrifices; swiftly piercing through the world of the Sun, he goes to the world of Brahma.

Verse 16 (shiva.uma.13.16)

स्थित्वा कल्पशतान्यत्र राजा भवति भूतले । भुङ्क्ते निष्कण्टकं भोगान्नात्र कार्या विचारणा

sthitvā kalpaśatānyatra rājā bhavati bhūtale bhuṅkte niṣkaṇṭakaṁ bhogānnātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Having remained there for a hundred kalpas, he becomes a king on earth, and enjoys pleasures free from any obstacle — there is no need for doubt about this.

Verse 17 (shiva.uma.13.17)

अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य यत्फलं समुदाहृतम् । तत्फलं समावाप्नोति देवाग्रे यो जपं चरेत्

aśvamedhasahasrasya yatphalaṁ samudāhṛtam tatphalaṁ samāvāpnoti devāgre yo japaṁ caret

Whoever performs recitation before a deity obtains that very fruit which is declared to belong to a thousand Ashvamedha sacrifices.

Verse 18 (shiva.uma.13.18)

इतिहासपुराणाभ्यां शम्भोरायतने शुभे । नान्यत्प्रीतिकरं शम्भोस्तथान्येषां दिवौकसाम्

itihāsapurāṇābhyāṁ śambhorāyatane śubhe nānyatprītikaraṁ śambhostathānyeṣāṁ divaukasām

In the auspicious temple of Shambhu, nothing else is as pleasing to Shambhu — nor likewise to the other dwellers of heaven — as the epic histories and Puranas.

Verse 19 (shiva.uma.13.19)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कार्यं पुस्तकवाचनम् । तथास्य श्रवणं प्रेम्णा सर्वकामफलप्रदम्

tasmātsarvaprayatnena kāryaṁ pustakavācanam tathāsya śravaṇaṁ premṇā sarvakāmaphalapradam

Therefore, with every effort, the recitation of the sacred book should be performed; and likewise, listening to it with devotion bestows the fruit of every desire.

Verse 20 (shiva.uma.13.20)

पुराणश्रवणात् शम्भोर्निष्पापो जायते नरः । भुक्त्वा भोगान् सुविपुलान् शिवलोकमवाप्नुयात्

purāṇaśravaṇāt śambhorniṣpāpo jāyate naraḥ bhuktvā bhogān suvipulān śivalokamavāpnuyāt

By listening to the Purana of Shambhu, a man becomes sinless; having enjoyed vast pleasures, he attains the world of Shiva.

Verse 21 (shiva.uma.13.21)

राजसूयेन यत्पुण्यमग्निष्टोमशतेन च । तत्पुण्यं लभते शम्भोः कथाश्रवणमात्रतः

rājasūyena yatpuṇyamagniṣṭomaśatena ca tatpuṇyaṁ labhate śambhoḥ kathāśravaṇamātrataḥ

Whatever merit belongs to the Rajasuya sacrifice and to a hundred Agnishtoma sacrifices — that merit is obtained merely by listening to the story of Shambhu.

Verse 22 (shiva.uma.13.22)

सर्वतीर्थावगाहेन गवां कोटिप्रदानतः । तत् फलं लभते शम्भोः कथाश्रवणतो मुने

sarvatīrthāvagāhena gavāṁ koṭipradānataḥ tat phalaṁ labhate śambhoḥ kathāśravaṇato mune

O sage, the fruit that comes from bathing in all sacred fords, and from the gift of ten million cows — that fruit is obtained through listening to the story of Shambhu.

Verse 23 (shiva.uma.13.23)

ये शृण्वन्ति कथां शम्भोः सदा भुवनपावनीम् । ते मनुष्या न मन्तव्या रुद्रा एव न संशयः

ye śṛṇvanti kathāṁ śambhoḥ sadā bhuvanapāvanīm te manuṣyā na mantavyā rudrā eva na saṁśayaḥ

Those who ever listen to the story of Shambhu, which purifies the world, should not be considered mere men; they are Rudras themselves, without doubt.

Verse 24 (shiva.uma.13.24)

शृण्वतां शिवसत्कीर्तिं सतां कीर्तयतां च ताम् । पादाम्बुजरजांस्येव तीर्थानि मुनयो विदुः

śṛṇvatāṁ śivasatkīrtiṁ satāṁ kīrtayatāṁ ca tām pādāmbujarajāṁsyeva tīrthāni munayo viduḥ

Sages regard the very dust of the lotus feet of the virtuous who listen to and recite the sacred glory of Shiva as itself equal to the sacred fords.

Verse 25 (shiva.uma.13.25)

गन्तुं निःश्रेयसं स्थानं येऽभिवाञ्छन्ति देहिनः । कथां पौराणिकीं शैवीं भक्त्या शृण्वन्तु ते सदा

gantuṁ niḥśreyasaṁ sthānaṁ ye'bhivāñchanti dehinaḥ kathāṁ paurāṇikīṁ śaivīṁ bhaktyā śṛṇvantu te sadā

Those embodied beings who wish to attain the state of supreme beatitude should always listen with devotion to the Puranic story of Shiva.

Verse 26 (shiva.uma.13.26)

कथां पौराणिकीं श्रोतुं यद्यशक्तः सदा भवेत् । नियतात्मा प्रतिदिनं शृणुयाद्वा मुहूर्तकम्

kathāṁ paurāṇikīṁ śrotuṁ yadyaśaktaḥ sadā bhavet niyatātmā pratidinaṁ śṛṇuyādvā muhūrtakam

If one should ever be unable to hear the Puranic story in full, let him, with disciplined mind, at least listen to it for a short while each day.

Verse 27 (shiva.uma.13.27)

यदि प्रतिदिनं श्रोतुमशक्तो मानवो भवेत् । पुण्यमासादिषु मुने शृणुयाच्छाङ्करीं कथाम्

yadi pratidinaṁ śrotumaśakto mānavo bhavet puṇyamāsādiṣu mune śṛṇuyācchāṅkarīṁ kathām

O sage, if a man should be unable to listen every day, he should at least listen to the sacred story of Shankara during meritorious months and other auspicious occasions.

Verse 28 (shiva.uma.13.28)

शैवीं कथां हि शृण्वानः पुरुषो हि मुनीश्वर । स निस्तरति संसारं दग्ध्वा कर्ममहाटवीम्

śaivīṁ kathāṁ hi śṛṇvānaḥ puruṣo hi munīśvara sa nistarati saṁsāraṁ dagdhvā karmamahāṭavīm

O lord of sages, indeed the man who listens to the story of Shiva crosses over the cycle of worldly existence, having burnt down the great forest of karma.

Verse 29 (shiva.uma.13.29)

कथां शैवीं मुहूर्तं वा तदर्धं वा क्षणं च वा । ये शृण्वन्ति नरा भक्त्या न तेषां दुर्गतिर्भवेत्

kathāṁ śaivīṁ muhūrtaṁ vā tadardhaṁ vā kṣaṇaṁ ca vā ye śṛṇvanti narā bhaktyā na teṣāṁ durgatirbhavet

Those men who listen with devotion to the story of Shiva, even for a short while, or for half of that, or even for a mere instant — for them there is no evil destiny.

Verse 30 (shiva.uma.13.30)

यत्पुण्यं सर्वदानेषु सर्वयज्ञेषु वा मुने । शम्भोः पुराणश्रवणात्तत्फलं निश्चलं भवेत्

yatpuṇyaṁ sarvadāneṣu sarvayajñeṣu vā mune śambhoḥ purāṇaśravaṇāttatphalaṁ niścalaṁ bhavet

O sage, whatever merit exists in all gifts or in all sacrifices — that fruit becomes unfailing through listening to the Purana of Shambhu.

Verse 31 (shiva.uma.13.31)

विशेषतः कलौ व्यास पुराणश्रवणादृते । परो धर्मो न पुंसां हि मुक्तिध्यानपरः स्मृतः

viśeṣataḥ kalau vyāsa purāṇaśravaṇādṛte paro dharmo na puṁsāṁ hi muktidhyānaparaḥ smṛtaḥ

Especially in the Kali age, O Vyasa, apart from listening to the Purana, no supreme dharma devoted to the meditation leading to liberation is remembered as available for men.

Verse 32 (shiva.uma.13.32)

पुराणश्रवणं शम्भोर्नामसङ्कीर्तनं तथा । कल्पद्रुमफलं रम्यं मनुष्याणां न संशयः

purāṇaśravaṇaṁ śambhornāmasaṅkīrtanaṁ tathā kalpadrumaphalaṁ ramyaṁ manuṣyāṇāṁ na saṁśayaḥ

Listening to the Purana of Shambhu, and likewise the chanting of his names, is, without doubt, the delightful fruit of the wish-fulfilling tree for mankind.

Verse 33 (shiva.uma.13.33)

कलौ दुर्मेधसां पुंसां धर्माचारोज्झितात्मनाम् । हिताय विदधे शम्भुः पुराणाख्यं सुधारसम्

kalau durmedhasāṁ puṁsāṁ dharmācārojjhitātmanām hitāya vidadhe śambhuḥ purāṇākhyaṁ sudhārasam

For the benefit of dull-witted men in the Kali age, whose souls have abandoned righteous conduct, Shambhu fashioned the nectar-essence called the Purana.

Verse 34 (shiva.uma.13.34)

एकोऽजरामरः स्याद्वै पिबन्नेवामृतं पुमान् । शम्भोः कथामृतापानात् कुलमेवाजरामरम्

eko'jarāmaraḥ syādvai pibannevāmṛtaṁ pumān śambhoḥ kathāmṛtāpānāt kulamevājarāmaram

A man who drinks ordinary nectar becomes ageless and immortal alone; but by drinking the nectar of Shambhu's story, his entire lineage becomes ageless and immortal.

Verse 35 (shiva.uma.13.35)

या गतिः पुण्यशीलानां यज्विनां च तपस्विनाम् । सा गतिः सहसा तात पुराणश्रवणात्खलु

yā gatiḥ puṇyaśīlānāṁ yajvināṁ ca tapasvinām sā gatiḥ sahasā tāta purāṇaśravaṇātkhalu

O dear one, whatever destination belongs to those of virtuous conduct, to sacrificers, and to ascetics — that very destination is indeed attained suddenly through listening to the Purana.

Verse 36 (shiva.uma.13.36)

ज्ञानावाप्तिर्यदा न स्याद्योगशास्त्राणि यत्नतः । अध्येतव्यानि पौराणं शास्त्रं श्रोतव्यमेव च

jñānāvāptiryadā na syādyogaśāstrāṇi yatnataḥ adhyetavyāni paurāṇaṁ śāstraṁ śrotavyameva ca

When the attainment of direct knowledge is not possible, the treatises on yoga are to be studied with effort; and likewise the Puranic scripture is indeed to be heard.

Verse 37 (shiva.uma.13.37)

पापं सङ्क्षीयते नित्यं धर्मश्चैव विवर्धते । पुराणश्रवणाज्ज्ञानी न संसारं प्रपद्यते

pāpaṁ saṅkṣīyate nityaṁ dharmaścaiva vivardhate purāṇaśravaṇājjñānī na saṁsāraṁ prapadyate

Sin is ever diminished, and dharma indeed increases; the wise man, through listening to the Purana, does not fall again into worldly existence.

Verse 38 (shiva.uma.13.38)

अतएव पुराणानि श्रोतव्यानि प्रयत्नतः । धर्मार्थकामलाभाय मोक्षमार्गाप्तये तथा

ataeva purāṇāni śrotavyāni prayatnataḥ dharmārthakāmalābhāya mokṣamārgāptaye tathā

Therefore the Puranas are to be heard with effort, for the attainment of dharma, artha, and kama, and likewise for reaching the path of liberation.

Verse 39 (shiva.uma.13.39)

यज्ञैर्दानैस्तपोभिस्तु यत्फलं तीर्थसेवया । तत्फलं समवाप्नोति पुराणश्रवणान्नरः

yajñairdānaistapobhistu yatphalaṁ tīrthasevayā tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti purāṇaśravaṇānnaraḥ

Whatever fruit is obtained through sacrifices, gifts, austerities, and the pursuit of sacred fords — a man obtains that same fruit through listening to the Purana.

Verse 40 (shiva.uma.13.40)

न भवेयुः पुराणानि धर्ममार्गेक्षणानि तु । यद्यत्र यद् व्रती स्थाता कोऽत्र पारत्रिकीं कथाम्

na bhaveyuḥ purāṇāni dharmamārgekṣaṇāni tu yadyatra yad vratī sthātā ko'tra pāratrikīṁ kathām

If the Puranas, which reveal the path of dharma, did not exist, then whoever remains steadfast in his vow here — who indeed would know the account of the world beyond?

Verse 41 (shiva.uma.13.41)

षड्विंशति पुराणानां मध्येऽप्येकं शृणोति यः । पठेद्वा भक्तियुक्तस्तु स मुक्तो नात्र संशयः

ṣaḍviṁśati purāṇānāṁ madhye'pyekaṁ śṛṇoti yaḥ paṭhedvā bhaktiyuktastu sa mukto nātra saṁśayaḥ

Whoever, even among the twenty-six Puranas, listens to just one, or reads it, endowed with devotion — he is liberated; there is no doubt about this.

Verse 42 (shiva.uma.13.42)

अन्यो न दृष्टः सुखदो हि मार्गः पुराणमार्गो हि सदा वरिष्ठः । शास्त्रं विना सर्वमिदं न भाति सूर्येण हीना इव जीवलोकाः

anyo na dṛṣṭaḥ sukhado hi mārgaḥ purāṇamārgo hi sadā variṣṭhaḥ śāstraṁ vinā sarvamidaṁ na bhāti sūryeṇa hīnā iva jīvalokāḥ

No other path bestowing happiness has been seen equal to this; the path of the Purana is indeed always the most excellent. Without scripture, all of this does not shine, just as the worlds of living beings would not shine, deprived of the sun.