Shloka 20

मुक्तयतिदेहसंस्काररहस्यं — The Esoteric Rites for the Bodies of Liberated Ascetics

Devanagari script

निनीय वन्द्यचरणौ देवदेवस्य पृष्ठतः । तिष्ठंत्यनुग्रहाकाराः कर्म्मण्येव प्रयोजिताः

Transliteration

ninīya vandyacaraṇau devadevasya pṛṣṭhataḥ | tiṣṭhaṃtyanugrahākārāḥ karmmaṇyeva prayojitāḥ

Translation

礼拝に値する御足をもつ देवदेव（神々の主）の後ろへと（彼らを）導くと、彼らは恩寵の姿となってそこにとどまり、なすべき奉仕の行にのみ従事していた。

Word by Word

• ninīya: having led
• ninīya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni√nī (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (absolutive/gerund) in classical usage as 'having led/brought'; avyaya

• vandya-caraṇau: the venerable two feet
• vandya-caraṇau: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vandya (प्रातिपदिक) + caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Dvivacana (Dual); karmadhāraya (venerable feet)

• deva-devasya: of the God of gods
• deva-devasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (deva of devas)

• pṛṣṭhataḥ: from behind/behind
• pṛṣṭhataḥ: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण/Spatial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛṣṭhatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; deśa-vācaka adverb (from behind/behind)

• tiṣṭhanti: they stand/remain
• tiṣṭhanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana (Plural); parasmaipada

• anugraha-ākārāḥ: having the form of grace
• anugraha-ākārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anugraha (प्रातिपदिक) + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana (Plural); tatpuruṣa (having the form of grace)

• karmaṇi: in action/in the rite
• karmaṇi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Saptamī (Locative/7th), Ekavacana (Singular)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; avadhāraṇa-particle (emphasis/only)

• prayojitāḥ: employed/appointed
• prayojitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√yuj (धातु)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya (past passive participle), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; karmavācya-bhāva (having been employed/appointed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights anugraha (Śiva’s grace) expressed through humble proximity to Śiva’s revered feet and through selfless service—action purified by devotion becomes a means toward liberation in the Shaiva Siddhanta spirit.

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

By emphasizing reverence to the Lord’s feet and staying “behind” Him in humility, it reflects Saguna Śiva worship—serving Śiva as the personal Deva-deva (often approached through the Śiva-liṅga) with surrender and disciplined attendance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt sevā-bhāva in daily pūjā: bow to Śiva (or the liṅga) with the attitude of serving His command; repeat the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while performing simple duties as an offering.