Shloka 38

प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च

The Great Assembly at Prayāga: Śiva’s Appearance and Dakṣa’s Arrival

Devanagari script

कूटधर्मेषु गेहेषु सदा ग्राम्यसुखेच्छया । कर्मतंत्रं वितनुता वेदवादं च शाश्वतम्

Transliteration

kūṭadharmeṣu geheṣu sadā grāmyasukhecchayā | karmataṃtraṃ vitanutā vedavādaṃ ca śāśvatam

Translation

In households ruled by crooked and hypocritical duties, ever driven by the craving for coarse, worldly pleasures, they spread a whole machinery of ritual action (karma) and keep proclaiming Veda-vāda as though it were itself the eternal end.

Word by Word

• kūṭa-dharmeṣu: in false duties/practices
• kūṭa-dharmeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (kūṭaḥ dharmaḥ)

• geheṣu: in houses
• geheṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: geha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• grāmya-sukha-icchayā: by desire for worldly/village pleasures
• grāmya-sukha-icchayā: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grāmya (प्रातिपदिक) + sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + icchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (grāmyasya sukhasya icchā)

• karma-tantram: a system centered on ritual action
• karma-tantram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + tantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (karmasya tantram)

• vitanutā: spread/propagate
• vitanutā: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-tan (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; (वितनुता = वितनुत)

• veda-vādam: Vedic doctrine/discourse
• veda-vādam: Karma (कर्म/Object; coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + vāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (vedasya vādaḥ)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• śāśvatam: eternal
• śāśvatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāśvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies veda-vādam)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns that when dharma becomes hypocritical and pleasure-driven, people cling to karma and verbal “Vedic” argument as an end, while missing Shiva-centered purity and liberation-oriented devotion.

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship is presented as a heart-transforming path; this verse critiques empty religiosity and implies that true worship must transcend mere social pleasure and performative ritualism.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to shift from showy karma to sincere Shiva-upāsanā—regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with inner discipline, rather than ritual done for worldly comfort.