Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29

सतीकृतप्रार्थना तथा परतत्त्वजिज्ञासा — Satī’s Prayer and Inquiry into the Supreme Principle

Devanagari script

सदा सेव्यानुकूल्येन सेवनं तद्धि गोगणैः । हृदयामृतभोगेन प्रियं दास्यमुदाहृतम्

Transliteration

sadā sevyānukūlyena sevanaṃ taddhi gogaṇaiḥ | hṛdayāmṛtabhogena priyaṃ dāsyamudāhṛtam

Translation

Servir Celui qui doit être servi, toujours d’une manière qui Lui soit agréable : voilà ce que les sages nomment véritablement « service ». Lorsqu’il est offert avec la saveur nectarée du cœur, un tel dāsya, servitude aimante, est proclamé le plus cher au Seigneur.

Word by Word

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• सेव्य-अनुकूल्येन: by favorableness toward the one to be served
• सेव्य-अनुकूल्येन: करण (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेव्य-अनुकूल्य (प्रातिपदिक; सेव्य+अनुकूल्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सेव्यस्य अनुकूल्यम्)

• सेवनम्: service
• सेवनम्: कर्ता/विषय
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेष्य-निर्देश
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्धसूचक निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• गो-गणैः: by the groups of cows
• गो-गणैः: कर्ता (Agent in passive/implicit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो-गण (प्रातिपदिक; गो+गण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्ता-हेतुः), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (गवां गणः)

• हृदय-अमृत-भोगेन: by the enjoyment of heart-nectar
• हृदय-अमृत-भोगेन: करण (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय-अमृत-भोग (प्रातिपदिक; हृदय+अमृत+भोग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (हृदयस्य अमृतस्य भोगः / अमृतभोगः)

• प्रियम्: dear/pleasing
• प्रियम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (दास्यम्)

• दास्यम्: servitude
• दास्यम्: कर्ता/विषय
• Type: Noun
• Root: दास्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उदाहृतम्: is declared
• उदाहृतम्: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आ-हृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Defines dāsya-bhāva (loving servitude) as ‘most dear’ when aligned with what pleases the Lord—an ethical-bhakti discipline that weakens pāśa through surrender.

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 defines true bhakti as seva done in a way that pleases Shiva—rooted in inner sincerity and heart-felt relish—showing that intention (bhāva) is central to liberation-oriented devotion in Shaiva teaching.

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

Linga worship becomes authentic when performed with sevyanukūlya—offering water, bilva, mantra, and reverence specifically to delight Saguna Shiva—rather than as mere external routine.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily Shiva-seva with the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while maintaining a pleasing, humble attitude; let the mind rest in devotion so the worship is ‘nectar in the heart,’ not mechanical.