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Shloka 2

सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering

ब्रह्मोवाच । एकस्मिन्समये तात ऋषीनाहूय सर्वतः । निर्जरांश्चाऽवदं प्रीत्या सुवचः पद्मसंभवः

brahmovāca | ekasminsamaye tāta ṛṣīnāhūya sarvataḥ | nirjarāṃścā'vadaṃ prītyā suvacaḥ padmasaṃbhavaḥ

Brahmā sprach: „Einst, mein Kind, rief ich die ṛṣi aus allen Himmelsrichtungen zusammen und auch die unsterblichen Götter. Dann redete ich, der aus dem Lotos Geborene, sie in Zuneigung an, mit wohlgewählten Worten.“

ब्रह्माBrahmā
ब्रह्मा:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√वच् (धातु)
Formलिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद
एकस्मिन्in one
एकस्मिन्:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootएक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case, locative), एकवचन; qualifies समये
समयेat a time/occasion
समये:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootसमय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
तातO dear (one)
तात:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootतात (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन
ऋषीन्sages
ऋषीन्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
आहूयhaving summoned
आहूय:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootआ-√ह्वा (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having summoned/called’
सर्वतःfrom all sides/everywhere
सर्वतः:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसर्वतः (अव्यय)
Formदिक्/परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘from all sides/everywhere’)
निर्जरान्gods (the ageless ones)
निर्जरान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootनिर्जर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
अवदम्I spoke
अवदम्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√वद् (धातु)
Formलङ् (imperfect/past), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद
प्रीत्याwith affection/gladly
प्रीत्या:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), एकवचन
सुवचःgood words
सुवचः:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootसु + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘सुन्दरं वचः’ used as object of अवदम्
पद्मसम्भवःthe lotus-born (Brahmā)
पद्मसम्भवः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपद्म + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘पद्मात् सम्भवः’ (born from the lotus)

Brahma

Tattva Level: pashu

Cosmic Event: deva-ṛṣi-saṅgama (council of gods and sages) within the creation-cycle narrative

B
Brahma
R
Rishis
D
Devas

FAQs

It establishes the sacred setting of transmission: Brahmā gathers rishis and devas to receive dharmic instruction, indicating that knowledge about Shiva and creation is meant to be heard in a reverent assembly (satsaṅga) and conveyed with goodwill.

Though it does not mention the Liṅga directly, it frames the authoritative narration that typically leads into Saguna Shiva teachings—how the devas and sages learn the proper understanding and worship of Lord Shiva in the creation-cycle context.

The implied practice is śravaṇa (devotional listening) in a gathered assembly—hearing Shiva-kathā with faith—an essential Shaiva discipline that supports mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī) and steady devotion.