Shloka 37

दक्षस्य यज्ञप्रवृत्तिः तथा ईश्वरवर्जितदेवसमागमः

Dakṣa’s Sacrificial Undertaking and the Devas’ Assembly without Īśvara

Devanagari script

स च विज्ञापयामास सह देव्या महेश्वरम् । आज्ञापय महादेव किं कार्यं करवाण्यहम्

Transliteration

sa ca vijñāpayāmāsa saha devyā maheśvaram | ājñāpaya mahādeva kiṃ kāryaṃ karavāṇyaham

Translation

Then he, together with the Goddess, respectfully addressed Maheśvara: “Command me, O Mahādeva—what task shall I perform?”

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• विज्ञापयामास: informed/announced
• विज्ञापयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ज्ञप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (periphrastic perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; causative sense ‘made known/informed’

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक अव्यय (with/together)

• देव्या: with the Goddess
• देव्या: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; सहार्थे करण (with the देवी)

• महेश्वरम्: Maheśvara
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सम्बोध्य/प्रति-उद्देश्य (object addressed)

• आज्ञापय: command/order
• आज्ञापय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

• महादेव: O Mahādeva
• महादेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महान् देवः)

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• कार्यम्: task/duty
• कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘to be done’ (gerundive-derived noun)

• करवाणि: should I do
• करवाणि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana’s episode; the quoted speech is by a devotee/attendant addressing Shiva in the presence of the Goddess)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it depicts the servant’s request for divine command (ājñā), a hallmark of gaṇa-dharma in Śiva’s retinue.

Significance: Cultivates dāsya-bhakti: offering one’s agency to Śiva’s will, which in Siddhānta is a prerequisite for anugraha overcoming pāśa (bondage).

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ājñāpaya mahādeva kiṃ kāryaṃ karavāṇyaham

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati (surrender): the devotee places personal will aside and seeks only Śiva’s command, turning action into sacred service aligned with Pati (the Lord) rather than ego.

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

Approaching Maheśvara with humility and readiness to serve reflects Saguna-upāsanā—relating to Shiva as the gracious Lord who guides the devotee; such obedience is the inner spirit behind external Linga worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer every act as Śiva-sevā: begin worship with a sankalpa of surrender, repeat the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and mentally ask, “What is Your work through me?” before performing japa, pūjā, or daily duties.