Shloka 36

Devanagari script

भवद्भिश्चैव कर्तव्यं कार्यं लोकसुखावहम् । लोकानुकूलं चरतां भविष्यत्युत्तमा गतिः

Transliteration

bhavadbhiścaiva kartavyaṃ kāryaṃ lokasukhāvaham | lokānukūlaṃ caratāṃ bhaviṣyatyuttamā gatiḥ

Translation

Therefore, you too should perform deeds that bring well-being to the world. For those who conduct themselves in harmony with the people and the order of the world, the highest destiny—liberation under Śiva’s grace—will surely arise.

Word by Word

• bhavadbhiḥ: by you (all)
• bhavadbhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया बहुवचनम् (instrumental plural; respectful ‘you’)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्ययम् (emphatic particle)

• kartavyam: must be done
• kartavyam: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + tavya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्तः (तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विधेय-भावः ‘कर्तव्यम्’ = should be done (gerundive; neuter nom/acc sg)

• kāryam: a task/deed
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (neuter nom/acc sg)

• loka-sukha-āvaham: bringing happiness to the world
• loka-sukha-āvaham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + āvaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (lokasya sukham āvahati iti) (neuter nom/acc sg; adjective)

• loka-anukūlam: in accordance with the world
• loka-anukūlam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + anukūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (lokasya anukūlam) (neuter nom/acc sg)

• caratām: (you all) act/conduct yourselves
• caratām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), मध्यमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम् (2nd person plural imperative)

• bhaviṣyati: will be
• bhaviṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्काल/Future), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम् (3rd person singular future)

• uttamā: best/supreme
• uttamā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (feminine nominative singular)

• gatiḥ: destination/attainment
• gatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा एकवचनम् (feminine nominative singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching embedded in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that true Shaiva living is not mere belief but dharma in action—deeds that support the welfare of all beings. Such lokahita conduct purifies the soul (paśu) and becomes fit to receive Śiva’s grace, culminating in the highest goal (uttamā gati), i.e., liberation.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is inseparable from right conduct: devotion (bhakti) must express itself as compassionate, world-supporting action. Serving the world in a dharmic way is treated as service to Saguna Śiva manifest in all beings, complementing ritual worship of the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse emphasizes ethical sādhanā: practice daily conduct that benefits others as an offering to Śiva. As a Shaiva takeaway, one may pair this with simple worship—Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), Rudrākṣa, and japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—dedicating the merit to loka-sukha (the welfare of all).