Shloka 20

दिव्य-भवन-छत्र-निर्माणः तथा देवसमाह्वानम्

Divine Pavilion and Canopy; Summoning the Gods

Devanagari script

महेश उवाच । त्वं कर्ता सर्वलोकानां भर्ता हर्ता मदाज्ञया । दाता धर्मार्थकामानां शास्ता दुर्नयकारिणाम्

Transliteration

maheśa uvāca | tvaṃ kartā sarvalokānāṃ bhartā hartā madājñayā | dātā dharmārthakāmānāṃ śāstā durnayakāriṇām

Translation

Mahesha said: “You are the creator of all the worlds; by My command you are their sustainer and their withdrawer. You bestow dharma, artha, and kāma, and you chastise those who act with evil conduct.”

Word by Word

• maheśaḥ: Mahesha
• maheśaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (उक्तिवाचक—वक्ता)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• tvam: you
• tvam: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kartā: creator/doer
• kartā: Kartṛ-nirdeśa (कर्ता-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + tṛ (तृ)
• Form: तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• sarvalokānām: of all worlds
• sarvalokānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva-loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (sarva + lokānām), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• bhartā: sustainer
• bhartā: Kartṛ-nirdeśa (कर्ता-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √bhṛ (धातु) + tṛ (तृ)
• Form: तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

• hartā: destroyer/remover
• hartā: Kartṛ-nirdeśa (कर्ता-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √hṛ (धातु) + tṛ (तृ)
• Form: तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

• madājñayā: by my command
• madājñayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mat-ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मम आज्ञया), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• dātā: giver
• dātā: Kartṛ-nirdeśa (कर्ता-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √dā (धातु) + tṛ (तृ)
• Form: तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

• dharma-artha-kāmānām: of dharma, wealth, and desire
• dharma-artha-kāmānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma + artha + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-समास, पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• śāstā: ruler/discipliner
• śāstā: Kartṛ-nirdeśa (कर्ता-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √śās (धातु) + tṛ (तृ)
• Form: तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

• durnayakāriṇām: of wrongdoers / those who act with bad conduct
• durnayakāriṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dur-naya-kārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (दुर्नयं करोति इति), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Mahesha)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse affirms Shiva as the supreme Pati (Lord) whose will governs cosmic order, while delegated powers create, sustain, and withdraw the worlds; spiritual life is thus aligning one’s conduct with Shiva’s dharma so the soul moves from bondage toward grace and liberation.

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

Linga-worship honors Shiva as the sovereign source behind all functions—creation, preservation, and dissolution—so devotion to the Saguna form (Shiva as Mahesha) trains the mind to see all powers as operating ‘by His command’ and to surrender egoic agency.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined dharmic living supported by japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with the intention of offering one’s actions to Shiva’s command; this reduces durnaya (misconduct) and strengthens inner restraint.