Shloka 39

किं कर्मैते करिष्यंति कुत्र स्थास्यंति वा विधे । किन्नामधेया एते तद्वद तत्र नियोजय

kiṃ karmaite kariṣyaṃti kutra sthāsyaṃti vā vidhe | kinnāmadheyā ete tadvada tatra niyojaya

“O Ordainer (Brahmā), what duties will these beings perform, and where indeed will they dwell? What are their names? Tell me that, and assign them to their proper stations.”

kimwhat
kim:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; interrogative pronoun used adjectivally
karmawork/duty
karma:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootkarman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
etethese (persons)
ete:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootetad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural
kariṣyantiwill do
kariṣyanti:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Root√kṛ (कृ धातु)
FormLuṭ (लुट्/Future), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural
kutrawhere
kutra:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkutra (अव्यय)
FormInterrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय)
sthāsyantiwill stay/stand
sthāsyanti:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Root√sthā (स्था धातु)
FormLuṭ (लुट्/Future), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Plural
or
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvā (अव्यय)
FormDisjunctive particle (विकल्पबोधक)
vidheO Vidhā (Brahmā)
vidhe:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
TypeNoun
Rootvidhātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; epithet of Brahmā (Vidhā)
kimwhat
kim:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Interrogative)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; interrogative used in compound
nāma-dheyāḥnamed/called
nāma-dheyāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
TypeNoun
Rootnāma (प्रातिपदिक) + dheya (प्रातिपदिक; √dhā + यत्)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; तत्पुरुषः (name-bearing = named)
etethese
ete:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootetad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural
tatthat
tat:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of 'vada'
vadatell/say
vada:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Root√vad (वद् धातु)
FormLoṭ (लोट्/Imperative), Parasmaipada, 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular
tatrathere
tatra:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottatra (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)
niyojayaassign/appoint
niyojaya:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootni + √yuj (युज् धातु)
FormLoṭ (लोट्/Imperative), Parasmaipada, 2nd Person, Singular; causative sense 'appoint/engage' (णिच् implied)

Lord Shiva

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Event: secondary-creation/assignment of functions within sṛṣṭi

B
Brahma

FAQs

The verse highlights Shiva as the supreme regulator of cosmic order, directing Brahmā to define names, roles, and abodes—showing that dharma and right function arise from divine ordinance, not randomness.

Though not explicitly about the Liṅga, it reflects Saguna Shiva’s role as Lord who governs creation and assigns duties; Liṅga-worship similarly centers on recognizing Shiva as the sustaining and directing principle behind all functions.

A practical takeaway is disciplined alignment with one’s svadharma while remembering Shiva as the inner governor—supported in Shaiva practice by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to stabilize intention and right action.