Shloka 38

Devanagari script

इति ते च समाख्याता पापाचारे च या गतिः । एवं ज्ञात्वा नरस्सम्यक्सेवयेदविमुक्तकम्

Transliteration

iti te ca samākhyātā pāpācāre ca yā gatiḥ | evaṃ jñātvā narassamyaksevayedavimuktakam

Translation

Thus have I explained to you the fate that befalls one who lives in sinful conduct. Knowing this, a person should rightly and wholeheartedly take refuge in the holy Avimukta (Kāśī), serving it with due reverence, and thus turn toward Śiva’s liberating grace.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyopasaṃhāra (वाक्योपसंहार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative)

• ते: to you/your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• समाख्याता: has been explained
• समाख्याता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + ख्या (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘has been explained/told’

• पापाचारे: in sinful conduct
• पापाचारे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भाव: ‘पापस्य आचारः’), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• या: which
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गतिः: fate, course, destination
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एवं: thus
• एवं: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having known’

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (properly, rightly)

• सेवयेत्: should worship/serve
• सेवयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अविमुक्तकम्: Avimuktaka (the sacred place)
• अविमुक्तकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविमुक्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; स्थाननाम (काशी/अविमुक्त-क्षेत्र)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: After stating the destinies resulting from pāpācāra, the text exhorts proper ‘sevanā’ of Avimukta—turning the bound soul toward Śiva’s liberating presence in Kāśī.

Significance: Kṣetra-sevā (residing, worship, ethical conduct, pilgrimage) is recommended as a practical means to orient life toward mokṣa under Śiva’s protection.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Avimukta (Kashi)

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts the downward destiny of pāpācāra (sinful living) with the liberating refuge of Avimukta (Kāśī), teaching that turning to Śiva’s sacred kṣetra with sincere sevā aligns one with His grace and the path to mokṣa.

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

Avimukta is celebrated as Śiva’s own abode where Saguna worship—darśana, pūjā, and service of Śiva’s presence (often through the liṅga and kṣetra-devatā)—becomes a direct means to purification and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is kṣetra-sevā: pilgrimage with disciplined conduct, regular Śiva-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and living a restrained, non-sinful life while honoring the sanctity of Avimukta.