Shloka 19

Devanagari script

देवत्वादशुभं किञ्चिद्देवलोके न विद्यते । दृष्ट्वापि सर्वे देवेशं यन्मुक्तिन्न लभामहे

Transliteration

devatvādaśubhaṃ kiñciddevaloke na vidyate | dṛṣṭvāpi sarve deveśaṃ yanmuktinna labhāmahe

Translation

Because of their divine status, nothing in the world of the gods is considered inauspicious. Yet we all, even after beholding the Lord of the gods (Śiva), do not attain liberation—such is our predicament.

Word by Word

• devatvāt: from godhood / due to being a god
• devatvāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• aśubham: inauspiciousness / evil
• aśubham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kiñcit: anything (at all)
• kiñcit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiñcit (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); अनिश्चित-परिमाणवाचक

• deva-loke: in the world of the gods
• deva-loke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha-nipāta (प्रतिषेध-निपात)

• vidyate: exists
• vidyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्), Present, Ātmanepada; Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Singular

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (क्त्वा), Absolutive (अव्ययकृदन्त)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (निपात) — concessive ‘even’

• sarve: all (of us/they)
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• deveśam: the Lord of the gods
• deveśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva-īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• yat: which (liberation)
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); correlating with implied ‘tat’

• muktim: liberation
• muktim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha-nipāta (प्रतिषेध-निपात)

• labhāmahe: we obtain
• labhāmahe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्), Present, Ātmanepada; Uttama-puruṣa (1st), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the puranic discourse to the sages, conveying the devas’ reflection in context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights that even ‘seeing’ the Lord is not automatically mokṣa without ripening and removal of malas; encourages sustained sādhana beyond mere darśana.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights that mere proximity to divinity or heavenly merit does not itself grant moksha; liberation arises from Śiva’s grace received through mature devotion, right knowledge, and freedom from binding impurities (pāśa).

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

It implies that even direct “seeing” of the Lord is not enough without sustained Saguna worship (such as Liṅga-sevā) that ripens into inner surrender and transforms karma and bondage—leading to Śiva’s liberating grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate daily Śiva-bhakti with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady Liṅga-upāsanā, aiming not at heavenly reward but at inner purification and longing for moksha.