Shloka 18

मयस्य शिवस्तुतिः — Maya’s Hymn to Śiva

and Śiva’s Gracious Response

Devanagari script

गच्छ त्वं वितलं लोकं रमणीयं दिवोऽपि हि । समेतः परिवारेण निजेन मम शासनात्

Transliteration

gaccha tvaṃ vitalaṃ lokaṃ ramaṇīyaṃ divo'pi hi | sametaḥ parivāreṇa nijena mama śāsanāt

Translation

“Go to the realm of Vitala—delightful indeed, even like heaven—together with your own retinue, in accordance with My command.”

Word by Word

• गच्छ: go
• गच्छ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु √गम्)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• वितलम्: to Vitala (netherworld)
• वितलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वितल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); place-name

• लोकम्: world, realm
• लोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• रमणीयम्: delightful
• रमणीयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रमणीय (प्रातिपदिक; from √रम्, तव्यत्/नीय)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying लोकम्

• दिवः: than heaven
• दिवः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) (द्यौः), Ablative/Genitive form 'दिवः' used with comparison; here Ablative sense (पञ्चमी/5) 'than heaven'

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (समुच्चय/अपि = 'also/even')

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic/causal particle (निश्चय/हेतौ)

• समेतः: accompanied
• समेतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-इ (धातु √इ) (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); 'having come together/being accompanied'

• परिवारेण: with retinue
• परिवारेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिवार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• निजेन: one's own
• निजेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying परिवारेण

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• शासनात्: by/according to (my) command
• शासनात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Pātāla-loka (Vitala) relocation under Śiva’s ordinance

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vitala

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati—the supreme governor—whose śāsana (divine ordinance) maintains cosmic order; spiritual maturity is shown by aligning one’s will with the Lord’s command.

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

The verse reflects Saguna Śiva as the personal Lord who directs beings and worlds; Linga-worship trains devotion and surrender (śaraṇāgati) to that living authority of Śiva’s grace and command.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined obedience and surrender: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa can be practiced as a vow to follow Śiva’s śāsana in thought and action.