Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

देवस्तुतिः—नन्दिकेश्वरविज्ञप्तिः—शम्भोः समाधेः उत्थानम्

Devas’ Hymn, Nandikeśvara’s Petition, and Śiva’s Rising from Samādhi

Devanagari script

एवं विमृश्य मनसा कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ । सुधीः सर्वैश्च देवेंद्र हठं नो कर्तुमर्हसि

Transliteration

evaṃ vimṛśya manasā kāryākāryavyavasthitau | sudhīḥ sarvaiśca deveṃdra haṭhaṃ no kartumarhasi

Translation

このように、なすべきこととなすべからざることを心にて熟慮したならば、インドラよ、賢明にして神々の長たる汝は、我らに対し頑なに力をもって事を運ぶべきではない。

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• विमृश्य: having reflected
• विमृश्य: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√मृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; उपसर्गः—वि

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: करण (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• कार्य-अकार्य-व्यवस्थितौ: in the discernment of what should and should not be done
• कार्य-अकार्य-व्यवस्थितौ: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अकार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यवस्थित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (कार्यं च अकार्यं च) ततः तत्पुरुष-सम्बन्धेन व्यवस्थितौ (व्यवस्थितिः)

• सुधीः: a wise person
• सुधीः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृपद/सम्बोधनार्थे अपि प्रयुज्यते

• सर्वैः: with all
• सर्वैः: सह/साकं (सहकारक/association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; सर्वनामसदृश

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

• देव-इन्द्र: O lord of the gods (Indra)
• देव-इन्द्र: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (देवानाम् इन्द्रः)

• हठम्: rashly/obstinately
• हठम्: क्रियाविशेषण (manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative)

• नः: of us/our
• नः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) बहुवचन (enclitic); ‘our/of us’

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: प्रयोजन/अनुयोग (complement of ‘arhasi’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्ययभाव

• अर्हसि: you ought/are fit
• अर्हसि: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Parvati (in the Parvati Khanda narrative, addressing Indra or the gods)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Indra

FAQs

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

It teaches dharmic discernment—first examine kārya vs. akārya, then act without egoistic force; in Shaiva understanding, humility and right judgment purify the mind and support devotion toward Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga and Saguna Shiva worship emphasize surrender and restraint; this verse warns that even divine power (like Indra’s) must be guided by dharma, aligning one’s will with Shiva’s order rather than acting in stubbornness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Before japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) or offering bhasma/rudraksha worship, practice a brief self-inquiry: ‘Is this kārya or akārya?’—then proceed with calm, non-forceful intention.