Shloka 23

देवर्षि-प्रश्नः तथा असुर-वध-हेतुनिवेदनम् | The Devas’ Petition and the Cause for Slaying Asuras

Devanagari script

स्त्रियं विवाह्य लोकस्य करिष्ये कार्यमुत्तमम् । इति संस्मृत्य स्वप्रोक्तं पूर्णं कुरु निजं पणम्

Transliteration

striyaṃ vivāhya lokasya kariṣye kāryamuttamam | iti saṃsmṛtya svaproktaṃ pūrṇaṃ kuru nijaṃ paṇam

Translation

“Having married a woman, I shall accomplish the highest good for the world.” Thus recalling his own declaration, he resolved to fulfill his personal vow in full.

Word by Word

• स्त्रियम्: a woman
• स्त्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• विवाह्य: having married
• विवाह्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + वह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘having married’

• लोकस्य: of the world/people
• लोकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• करिष्ये: I shall do
• करिष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• कार्यम्: task/duty
• कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृ-धातोः यत्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent/supreme
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘कार्यम्’

• इति: thus
• इति: Vacana-marker (इति-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• संस्मृत्य: having remembered
• संस्मृत्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘having remembered’

• स्वप्रोक्तम्: what was said by oneself
• स्वप्रोक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + प्रोक्त (प्रातिपदिक; प्र + वच् धातोः क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘स्वेन प्रोक्तम्’ = by oneself spoken)

• पूर्णम्: complete/fulfilled
• पूर्णम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘पणम्/व्रतम्’ (implicit)

• कुरु: do/fulfil
• कुरु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• निजम्: one's own
• निजम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘पणम्’

• पणम्: pledge/vow
• पणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights vrata-pālana (faithfully fulfilling one’s vow) as a mark of divine integrity—Shiva’s resolve is portrayed as aimed at loka-kalyāṇa (the highest good of the world), aligning action with dharma.

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

It reflects Saguna Shiva’s līlā in the world—Shiva takes up purposeful action for cosmic welfare. Devotees worship the Linga as the steady, vow-keeping Lord (Pati) whose compassionate resolve guides creation toward harmony and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is vrata-sankalpa with Shiva: take a sincere vow (e.g., Mahāśivarātri fasting, japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” Tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa discipline) and complete it with steadiness and purity of intent.