Shloka 48

Devanagari script

मम कृत्ये भवान्मुख्यो देवीकृत्ये विशेषतः । घृततैलादिकं सर्वं त्वया ग्राह्यं मदर्पितम्

Transliteration

mama kṛtye bhavānmukhyo devīkṛtye viśeṣataḥ | ghṛtatailādikaṃ sarvaṃ tvayā grāhyaṃ madarpitam

Translation

“In my service you are foremost—especially in the service of the Goddess. All offerings such as ghee, oil, and the rest, which are presented in my name, should be accepted by you.”

Word by Word

• मम: my/of me
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive: ‘of me/my’)

• कृत्ये: in (my) duty/rite
• कृत्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in the duty/ritual)

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/भवद्-शब्द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; आदरार्थक सर्वनाम

• मुख्यः: chief/primary
• मुख्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण—प्रधानः (chief)

• देवी-कृत्ये: in the देवी’s rite/duty
• देवी-कृत्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘देव्याः कृत्ये’ (in the goddess’s duty/rite)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषणार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘especially’)

• घृत-तैल-आदिकम्: ghee, oil, etc.
• घृत-तैल-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक) + तैल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘घृततैलादि’ इति समाहारार्थे तत्पुरुष-समासः

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समस्तवाचक

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण/कर्तृ-निर्देश (by you)

• ग्राह्यम्: to be accepted
• ग्राह्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु) → ग्राह्य (कृदन्त; यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; योग्यता/विध्यर्थक—‘to be accepted’

• मत्-अर्पितम्: offered by me
• मत्-अर्पितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्पित (कृदन्त; √अर्प् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umapati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights Śiva’s institutional ordering of service: the devotee is appointed ‘foremost’ in Śiva-kṛtya and especially Devī-kṛtya, legitimizing roles in Śiva-Śakti worship and the handling of ritual supplies.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devi (Parvati)

FAQs

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

The verse affirms a Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on disciplined seva (service) and proper adhikara (responsibility): offerings made to Shiva are to be received through an authorized devotee/attendant, and service to Devi is highlighted as an intimate extension of service to Shiva.

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

In Saguna worship, Shiva accepts devotion through concrete ritual acts—offerings like ghee and oil—performed with right order and dedication. The verse underlines that such upacharas, when offered to Shiva, are also integrated with Devi’s worship, reflecting the unity of Shiva-Shakti in temple and household puja.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests orderly puja with proper offering-handling: present ghee/oil and related upacharas as Shiva-arpana (dedicated to Shiva), maintaining purity and devotion; in practice this aligns with regular Shiva puja (often alongside Devi puja), accompanied by mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara, “Om Namah Shivaya.”