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1. Skanda Purāṇa - Greatness of Śiva Purāṇa

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1. Skanda Purāṇa - Greatness of Śiva Purāṇa

First revision: Nov.13, 2025

Last change: Nov.23, 2025

Searched, gathered, rearranged, translated, and compiled by Apirak Kanchanakongkha.

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Chapter 1-1(1)¹ (Greatness of Śiva Purāṇa)

Sri Śaunaka⁰¹ said, O Sūta!² O immensely wise one! O lord! O one who knows the outcomes of all the various determinations. In particular, please tell me about the essence of all the Purāṇas. How are good behavior, devotion and a sense of discrimination enhanced in one’s own self and in one’s sons? How do virtuous people act so as to dispel their own deviations? In this terrible kali yuga, all beings generally obtain asura traits. What is the supreme path that can cure them of this? What is that supreme object which ensures the best of the best? At present, what is the means can be used to swiftly purify one’s ātman? O father!³ With a sparkling mind, how can one always obtain Śiva?’
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^1. Though included in Śiva Purāṇa texts, Chapter 1.1 to 1.7 are not really from Śiva Purāṇa. They are actually from Skanda Purāṇa. But since they are about the greatness of Śiva Purāṇa, they are often included in Śiva Purāṇa texts.
^2. Sūta narrated the Purāṇas to the sages, led by Śaunaka, assembled in the forest of Naimiṣa (Naimiṣāraṇya).
^3. The word used is tata. While this means father, it is respectfully used to address anyone who is senior.
Notes and Narratives
^01. Śaunaka (शौनक), the leader of the great sages in the Naimiṣāraṇya.

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Sūta replied, ‘O tiger among sages! Since you are eager and lovingly wish to hear about this, you are blessed. Hence, I will use my intelligence to reflect on the great and excellent sacred texts and tell you. This is the outcome of all the various determinations and enhances devotion. O child! It is divine and satisfies Śiva. Listen to this medication. It is excellent and destroys the great fear arising from the predatory serpent known as Kāla.¹ O sage! This is the supreme Śiva Purāṇa, stated by Śiva himself. The sage Sanātkumāra instructed Vyāsa and out of respect for him² and for the welfare of those born in kali yuga, Vyāsa abridged them. O sage! Especially for the purification of the minds of those born in kali yuga, there is nothing other than Śiva Purāṇa. O sage! After accumulating great merits in an earlier birth, an immensely fortunate and intelligent person will develop affection for it. This Śiva Purāṇa is a supreme and excellent sacred text. On earth, it should always be served and known as Śiva’s form. If an excellent man devotedly reads it or listens to it, he instantly obtains Śiva, something that can only be attained by using every possible means. Therefore, men must make every kind of effort to read this sacred text. If one listens to it lovingly, everything desired is obtained as a fruit. When a man listens to Śambhu’s³ Purāṇa, a man is cleansed of sins. After enjoying extensive objects of pleasure, he obtains Śiva’s world. As soon as one hears about Śambhu’s account, one obtains the good merits obtained from performing a Rājasūya⁴^,⁰¹ sacrifice or one hundred Agniṣtoma⁰² sacrifices.⁴
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^1. Time, destiny, death.
^2. Sanātkumāra. Originally, the Purāṇas were composed by Brahmā, who taught them to Sanātkumāra, one of the four sons born through Brahmā’s mental powers. Sanātkumāra instructed Vedavyāsa about the Purāṇas. In turn, he abridged them and classified them into eighteen. So runs the tradition.
^3. Śambhu (शम्भु) is Śiva’s name.
^4. Rājasūya is a royal sacrifice, agniṣtoma is a fire sacrifice.
Notes and narratives:
^01. Rājasūya (राजसूय) is a great sacrifice performed by a universal monarch (in which the tributary princes also take part) at the time of his coronation as a mark of his undisputed sovereignty.
The conqueror of cardinal points was fit to perform this: Yudhiṣṭhīra on this, to Kṛṣṇa: Done by Soma who conquered the three worlds; Yudhiṣṭhira's desire to be a Pārameṣṭhī. So Ṛtviks were sent for, including Bhīṣma, Vidura. Even Śūdras were invited. After the sacrifice, on the suggestion of Sahadeva, the first honour was given to Kṛṣṇa. Śiśupāla's protest and vilification of Kṛṣṇa who had his head cut off. In the sacrifice each brother was assigned specific functions—Duryodhana in charge of treasury, Bhīma cooking, Nakula the supply of provisions, etc. The avabhṛta bath at Gangā accompanied by divine music. Every visitor duly honoured, returned back. Jealousy of Duryodhana at the success of the sacrifice. The consecration ceremony of a king done by Pṛthu, Vāli and others.
^02. Agniṣtoma (अग्निष्टोम) is a sacrificial rite extending over several days in spring and forming an essential part of the Jyotiṣṭoma. Agniṣṭoma according to the Śivapurāṇa-māhātmya 1.16-17, “by listening to this Purāṇa of Śiva a man becomes sinless. After enjoying all extensive worldly pleasures, he will attain the region of Śiva. Merely by listening to the story of Śiva a man secures that merit which results from the performance of Rājasūya and a hundred Agniṣṭomas”.
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O sage! Those who hear the excellent sacred text of Śiva Purāṇa should not be thought of as mere mortals. There is no doubt that they are like forms of Rudra.¹ Sages know that the dust from the lotus feet of those who hear this Purāṇa and chant it are like the dust from tirthas.² Embodied beings who desire to go to the supreme region should always devotedly listen to the unblemished Śiva Purāṇa. O supreme among sages! If a person is unable to listen to it constantly, let him control his atman and listen to it for one muhūrta³ every day, let him listen to the Śiva Purāṇa on auspicious months. If people listen to the Purāṇa for one muhūrta, for half a muhūrta, for a quarter of a muhūrta or for a Kṣaṇa,⁴ they do not suffer from any hardships. O lord of sages! A man who listens to this Purāṇa burns down the great forest of karma and crosses samsara.⁵ O sage! Good merits are obtained from all donations and all sacrifices. Those stable fruits are obtained from listening to Śambhu’s Purāṇa, O sage! Especially during kali yuga, there is no longer dharma for men than listening to Śiva Purāṇa. This is the means for achieving emancipation. There is no doubt that through properly hearing and reciting Śambhu Purāṇa, men obtain the fruits obtained from kalpadruma.⁶ In Kali yuga, there are evil-minded people who are deceitful in their atmans. They do not follow dharma. The nectar known as Śambhu Purāṇa is for their benefit.
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^1. Rudra is Śiva’s name.
^2. A tirtha or tīrtha (तीर्थ) is a sacred place of pilgrimage with water. A kshetra (or Kṣetra – क्षेत्र ) is a sacred place of pilgrimage without water. But the words are sometimes used synonymously.
^3. A muhūrta (योग) is a period of 48 minutes.
^4. Kṣaṇa (क्षण - moment) is a small measure of time, with differing interpretations. A second or an instant is accurate enough.
^5. Samsara () The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, the image being of crossing over to the other shore.
^6. The tree (druma) that yields all the wishes thought of (kalpa).
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A man who drinks this amrita⁰¹ does not suffer from old age and becomes immortal. The amarita of Śambhu’s account also ensures that no one in the entire family suffers from old age. They become immortal.

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^01. Amarita
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