Shloka 11

पञ्चकृत्यलक्षणनिर्णयः

Definition of Śiva’s Five Cosmic Acts—Pañcakṛtya

Devanagari script

तथा रुद्र महेशाभ्यामन्यत्कृत्यद्वयं परम् । अनुग्रहाख्यं केनापि लब्धुं नैव हि शक्यते

Transliteration

tathā rudra maheśābhyāmanyatkṛtyadvayaṃ param | anugrahākhyaṃ kenāpi labdhuṃ naiva hi śakyate

Translation

Likewise, apart from Rudra and Maheśa, no one at all can obtain that supreme twofold divine function known as anugraha—grace.

Word by Word

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb (तथाभाव/समुच्चयार्थ)

• रुद्र: O Rudra
• रुद्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• महेशाभ्याम्: by (you two,) Mahēśa (and Rudra)
• महेशाभ्याम्: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन

• अन्यत्: other/another
• अन्यत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective qualifying कृत्यद्वयम्

• कृत्यद्वयम्: two tasks/duties
• कृत्यद्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कृत्यस्य द्वयम्)

• परम्: supreme/greater
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective qualifying कृत्यद्वयम्

• अनुग्रहाख्यम्: named ‘grace/favor’
• अनुग्रहाख्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुग्रह + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अनुग्रहस्य आख्यम् = named ‘anugraha’)

• केन: by anyone/with anyone
• केन: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; interrogative/indefinite in context

• अपि: even/any
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (सम्भावना/अपि=even/any)

• लब्धुम्: to obtain
• लब्धुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (Infinitive), ‘to obtain’

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; negation particle

• एव: at all/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphatic particle

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; causal/emphatic particle

• शक्यते: is possible/can be done
• शक्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse is doctrinal: anugraha (saving grace) is exclusive to Śiva (Rudra/Maheśa) and not merely an administrative cosmic function.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Mahesha

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation is not merely a result of personal effort; the decisive cause is Shiva’s anugraha—His saving grace—unique to Rudra/Maheśa as the supreme Lord (Pati) who releases the bound soul (paśu) from bondage (pāśa).

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

Linga-worship and devotion to Saguna Shiva are presented as concrete means to approach Rudra/Maheśa; through such worship the devotee becomes fit to receive anugraha, which alone consummates the path into freedom.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate surrender (śaraṇāgati) through regular Shiva-pūjā—especially japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and/or Rudrākṣa—praying specifically for Shiva’s anugraha rather than mere worldly attainments.