Shloka 11

Devanagari script

अथोऽनरण्यकन्या सा सिषेवे भक्तितो मुनिम् । कर्मणा मनसा वाचा लक्ष्मीर्नारायणं यथा

Transliteration

atho'naraṇyakanyā sā siṣeve bhaktito munim | karmaṇā manasā vācā lakṣmīrnārāyaṇaṃ yathā

Translation

Then that maiden of the forest devotedly attended upon the sage—by her actions, by her mind, and by her speech—just as Lakṣmī serves Nārāyaṇa.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• अनरण्यकन्या: Anaraṇya’s daughter
• अनरण्यकन्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनरण्य + कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: अनरण्यस्य कन्या), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• सिषेवे: served
• सिषेवे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• भक्तितः: with devotion
• भक्तितः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘from/with devotion’

• मुनिम्: the sage
• मुनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• कर्मणा: by action/deed
• कर्मणा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• वाचा: by speech
• वाचा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• लक्ष्मीः: Lakṣmī
• लक्ष्मीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as/just as)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi
• Narayana

FAQs

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

It teaches that true devotion is holistic—service offered through body (karma), mind (manas), and speech (vāc). Such integrated bhakti purifies the seeker and becomes a direct means to divine grace in the Shaiva path.

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

Linga-worship is not only external ritual; it is also inner alignment. Serving the guru/sage with single-hearted devotion mirrors Saguna worship—where every act, thought, and word becomes an offering to Shiva’s manifest presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice tri-fold discipline: perform daily worship and service (seva) as karma, maintain Shiva-remembrance as manas (japa/dhyāna), and speak truth and mantra as vāc—especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” as a steady devotional vow.