Shloka 51

Andhakeśvara-liṅga Māhātmya and Śiva’s Subjugation of Andhaka (अन्धकेश्वरलिङ्गमाहात्म्य तथा अन्धकवध-प्रसङ्ग)

Devanagari script

मत्सेवां प्रथमं कृत्वा कार्यमन्यत्कुलोचितम् । एवं कृतेऽखिले भद्रं दोषाः क्षान्ता मया तव

Transliteration

matsevāṃ prathamaṃ kṛtvā kāryamanyatkulocitam | evaṃ kṛte'khile bhadraṃ doṣāḥ kṣāntā mayā tava

Translation

“First perform service and worship to Me; then attend to the other duties that are proper to your lineage. If you do everything in this order, O auspicious one, all your faults are forgiven by Me.”

Word by Word

• मत्सेवाम्: service to me
• मत्सेवाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी-रूप ‘मम’) + सेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘मम सेवा’); द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (adverbial accusative: ‘first’)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive: having done)

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: विधेय (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘to be done’

• अन्यत्: other
• अन्यत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); विशेषण

• कुलोचितम्: proper for the family/tradition
• कुलोचितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुल + उचित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी/षष्ठी-भाव: ‘कुले उचितम्’); प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषण (अन्यत्-विशेषण)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/in this way’)

• कृते: when (it is) done
• कृते: अधिकरण (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘कृत’; सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); लोकेटिव-अब्सोल्यूट (locative absolute)

• अखिले: in the whole (matter)
• अखिले: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); विशेषण (कृते-विशेषण)

• भद्रम्: good/auspiciousness
• भद्रम्: वाक्य-प्रयोजन (Benedictive/predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); आशीर्वादार्थक-प्रयोग (benedictive usage)

• दोषाः: faults
• दोषाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• क्षान्ताः: forgiven/endured
• क्षान्ताः: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘क्षान्त’; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); विधेय (predicate)

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• तव: of you/your
• तव: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: General: prioritizing Śiva-sevā is framed as the direct means to kṣamā (forgiveness) and spiritual uplift, a portable ‘tīrtha’ principle applicable to all Śiva-kṣetras.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches a Shaiva Siddhanta priority: place Shiva-seva first, and let all other dharmic duties follow from that center. When devotion is primary, Shiva’s grace purifies lapses and restores spiritual auspiciousness.

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

“Service to Me first” points to Saguna worship—approaching Shiva through the Linga with reverence, offerings, and remembrance. By honoring Shiva as Pati (the Lord), one’s worldly obligations become sanctified rather than competing with worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Begin the day (and major undertakings) with Shiva-puja: Linga abhisheka, Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) application, japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and then proceed to family and social duties in a spirit of seva.