Shloka 38

मेना-शिवदर्शन-प्रस्थानम् | Menā’s Quest to Behold Śiva

Departure for Śiva’s Darśana

Devanagari script

शंकरोखिलकार्य्यस्य ह्यधिकारी च तत्प्रियः । अतोऽधिको वरो ज्ञेयस्स शिवः पार्वतीपतिः

Transliteration

śaṃkarokhilakāryyasya hyadhikārī ca tatpriyaḥ | ato'dhiko varo jñeyassa śivaḥ pārvatīpatiḥ

Translation

Śaṅkara is the rightful Lord over all undertakings, and He is the beloved of that Supreme Reality. Therefore know: the higher and foremost boon is this—Śiva, the Lord of Pārvatī.

Word by Word

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अखिलकार्यस्य: of all tasks/affairs
• अखिलकार्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समास: अखिलं कार्यं यस्य/अखिलकार्य (कर्मधारय)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—खलु/नूनम् (indeed)

• अधिकारी: the authority/one in charge
• अधिकारी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिकारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्प्रियः: dear to her/that one
• तत्प्रियः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of शंकरः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समास: तस्य प्रियः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Logical connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थक/तस्मात् (therefore/from that)

• अधिकः: greater/superior
• अधिकः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of वरः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तुलनार्थक (comparative sense: greater)

• वरः: boon; excellent choice
• वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ज्ञेयः: should be known
• ज्ञेयः: Vidhi (विधि/Predicative obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृत्य-प्रत्यय (gerundive/future passive participle): ‘to be known/should be known’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Apposition (समनाधिकरण/Identifier of सः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पार्वतीपतिः: husband of Pārvatī
• पार्वतीपतिः: Apposition (समनाधिकरण/Identifier of शिवः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वती (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: पार्वत्याः पतिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It declares that Śiva (Śaṅkara) presides over all activities and outcomes; thus, the greatest “boon” is to take refuge in Him—Pati (the Lord) who grants grace and liberation, central to Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

By praising Śaṅkara as the supreme authority, it supports Saguna worship—approaching Shiva tangibly through Liṅga-pūjā and devotion to Shiva as Pārvatīpati—so that divine grace may govern one’s karma and lead toward moksha.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Choose Shiva as the highest aim: perform daily Liṅga worship with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), recite the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and cultivate bhakti to Shiva-Parvati as the guiding Lord of all actions.