Shloka 25

Devanagari script

गर्व्वमेनं न कुरुत कर्त्ता हर्त्ताऽपरः प्रभुः । विस्मृताश्च महेशानं कथयध्वम्वृथाबलाः

Transliteration

garvvamenaṃ na kuruta karttā harttā'paraḥ prabhuḥ | vismṛtāśca maheśānaṃ kathayadhvamvṛthābalāḥ

Translation

Do not harbor this pride. The true Lord—other than you—is the real doer and withdrawer of all. Forgetting Mahēśāna, you speak as though you are mighty; your strength is in vain.

Word by Word

• garvam: pride
• garvam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garva (गर्व)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• enam: this
• enam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (एतद्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• na: not
• na: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (न)
• Form: Negation

• kuruta: do
• kuruta: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ)
• Form: Lot Lakara (Imperative), 2nd Person, Plural

• kartā: creator
• kartā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kartṛ (कर्तृ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• hartā: destroyer
• hartā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hartṛ (हर्तृ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• aparaḥ: another
• aparaḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (अपर)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• prabhuḥ: Lord
• prabhuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रभु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• vismṛtāḥ: forgotten
• vismṛtāḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + smṛ (वि + स्मृ)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (Kta), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction

• maheśānam: Great Lord
• maheśānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahat + īśāna (महत् + ईशान)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kathayadhvam: speak
• kathayadhvam: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kath (कथ्)
• Form: Lot Lakara (Imperative), 2nd Person, Plural, Atmanepada

• vṛthābalāḥ: O you of vain strength
• vṛthābalāḥ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛthā + bala (वृथा + बल)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन), Plural

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Maheshana), admonishing proud beings (likely devas/asuras) within the Shatarudra narrative context

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Contemplation of Mahēśvara as kartā-hartā dissolves ahaṅkāra and aligns the soul (paśu) toward Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that ego is a spiritual obstacle: all agency ultimately belongs to Maheshana (Shiva), and pride that forgets Him becomes powerless and fruitless.

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee to remember Shiva as the supreme Lord (Pati) beyond individual doership; recognizing Him as kartā-hartā transforms worship into surrender rather than self-assertion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Shiva-smriti through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a humility-vow, offering actions and results to Shiva to reduce pride and strengthen devotion.