Shloka 76

Devanagari script

सेवेत सततं धीमान् विशेषान्मरणान्तिके

Transliteration

seveta satataṃ dhīmān viśeṣānmaraṇāntike

Translation

Der Weise soll unablässig hingebungsvollen Dienst üben—ganz besonders beim Nahen des Todes—damit das letzte Gedenken fest auf Pati, Herrn Śiva, dem Befreier des gebundenen Paśu, ruhe.

Word by Word

• सेवेत: should serve/should practice devoted worship

• सततम्: constantly/always

• धीमान्: the wise one/discerning person

• विशेषान्: with special emphasis/with particular intensity

• मरणान्तिके: when death is near/at the time close to death

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching tradition within the Linga Purana)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It prioritizes uninterrupted seva (service/worship) of Śiva, implying that steady Linga-pūjā and smaraṇa culminate in a focused final remembrance that supports liberation.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By urging intensified devotion at death, it points to Śiva as Pati—the supreme refuge whose remembrance cuts the bonds (pāśa) of the paśu and leads toward mokṣa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Continuous practice of seva/sādhana—daily worship, mantra-japa, and contemplative remembrance—intensified as maraṇāntika (death approaches), aligning with Pāśupata-oriented discipline.