Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

भक्ताधिकारि-द्विजधर्म-योगिलक्षणवर्णनम् / Duties of Qualified Devotees and Marks of Yogins

Devanagari script

शुश्रूषेतरवर्णानां धर्मः शूद्रस्य कथ्यते । उद्यानकरणं चैव मम क्षेत्रसमाश्रयः

Transliteration

śuśrūṣetaravarṇānāṃ dharmaḥ śūdrasya kathyate | udyānakaraṇaṃ caiva mama kṣetrasamāśrayaḥ

Translation

The dharma of the Śūdra is declared to be service to the other social orders. Likewise, the making of gardens and taking refuge in my sacred domain (my holy field, the temple-land) are also commended.

Word by Word

• शुश्रूषा: service/attendance
• शुश्रूषा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• इतर: other
• इतर: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (agreeing with वर्णानाम्)

• वर्णानाम्: of the classes (varṇas)
• वर्णानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• धर्मः: duty
• धर्मः: क्रियापूरक/विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शूद्रस्य: of the Śūdra
• शूद्रस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• कथ्यते: is said/declared
• कथ्यते: क्रिया (Verb/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• उद्यान: garden/park
• उद्यान: सम्बन्ध (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (compound-member)

• करणम्: making/maintenance
• करणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृदन्त) → करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाववाचक-नाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः उद्यान-करणम् (तत्पुरुष)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• मम: my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन (genitive pronoun)

• क्षेत्र: field/land
• क्षेत्र: सम्बन्ध (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (compound-member)

• समाश्रयः: dependence/support (based on the field)
• समाश्रयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + आ + श्रि (धातु) + घञ् (कृदन्त) → समाश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः क्षेत्र-समाश्रयः (तत्पुरुष: 'field-based livelihood/support')

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It elevates seva (humble service) and kṣetra-āśraya (taking refuge in Shiva’s sacred space) as practical, purifying disciplines that soften ego and mature devotion—key themes in Shaiva Siddhanta where grace arises through surrender and right conduct.

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

By recommending refuge in Shiva’s kṣetra, it points to embodied worship—serving in and supporting the holy precinct around the Linga (cleaning, tending, assisting devotees). Such outer service becomes inner reverence to Saguna Shiva, preparing the heart for Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Temple-centered seva is implied: maintaining sacred gardens/groves for worship materials (flowers, bilva leaves) and living in disciplined proximity to a Shiva-kṣetra; this can be paired with simple japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while serving.