Shloka 38

मेना-हिमालयसंवादः

Menā’s Counsel to Himālaya; Response to Slander of Śiva

Devanagari script

भवद्भिः कल्पितो यो वै विधिस्स्यादधिकस्ततः । भवताञ्चैव कार्य्यं तु भवन्तः कार्य्यभागिनः

Transliteration

bhavadbhiḥ kalpito yo vai vidhissyādadhikastataḥ | bhavatāñcaiva kāryyaṃ tu bhavantaḥ kāryyabhāginaḥ

Translation

„Welches Verfahren ihr auch ersonnen habt, es wird wahrlich den anderen überlegen sein. Und diese Aufgabe sollt auch ihr ausführen, denn ihr seid die rechtmäßigen Teilhaber und Mitwirkenden am Ritus.“

Word by Word

• भवद्भिः: by you (all)
• भवद्भिः: कर्ता (agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; आदरार्थक सर्वनाम (‘you’)

• कल्पितः: arranged/ordained
• कल्पितः: विधेय (predicate adjective)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग

• यः: which
• यः: कर्ता (relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative pronoun)

• वै: indeed
• वै: वाक्यालङ्कार (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• विधिः: rule/ordinance
• विधिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• स्यात्: would be / may be
• स्यात्: क्रिया (verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अधिकः: greater, superior
• अधिकः: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण of विधिः

• ततः: than that / therefore
• ततः: अपादान/तुलना (ablatival sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपादान/तुलनाबोधक (from that/therefore/than that)

• भवताम्: of you (all)
• भवताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; आदरार्थक सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: certainly/only
• एव: वाक्यालङ्कार (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (restrictive/emphatic particle)

• कार्य्यम्: the task
• कार्य्यम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: वाक्यसंयोजक (contrast)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेषार्थक (adversative/contrast particle)

• भवन्तः: you (all)
• भवन्तः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; आदरार्थक सर्वनाम

• कार्य्य-भागिनः: participants/sharers in the task
• कार्य्य-भागिनः: विधेय (predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + भागिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘having a share in the task’)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (inferred, addressing assembled devas/attendants in the Parvati Khanda narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that sacred work (kārya) must be done according to a sound vidhi, and that those involved should accept their rightful share with humility—turning action into Shiva-sevā rather than ego-driven control.

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

Linga/Saguna worship emphasizes correct procedure (vidhi) and collective participation—offering, chanting, and service done in harmony. The verse affirms that devotees and officiants are ‘kārya-bhāginaḥ,’ entitled and responsible to complete Shiva’s worship properly.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Follow an established Shiva-pūjā vidhi with shared roles—such as coordinated abhiṣeka, Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) application, and steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” performed with disciplined cooperation.