Shloka 18

देवगुरुप्रेषणम्

Himālaya Mission of the Gods’ Preceptor / The Gods Send Their Guru

Devanagari script

अथवा गच्छत सुरा ब्रह्मलोकं सवासवाः । वृत्तं कथयत स्वं तत्स वः कार्यं करिष्यति

Transliteration

athavā gacchata surā brahmalokaṃ savāsavāḥ | vṛttaṃ kathayata svaṃ tatsa vaḥ kāryaṃ kariṣyati

Translation

ಅಥವಾ, ಓ ದೇವತೆಗಳೇ—ಇಂದ್ರನೊಡನೆ—ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಲೋಕಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗಿರಿ. ನಡೆದ ವೃತ್ತಾಂತವನ್ನು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ತಿಳಿಸಿರಿ; ಅವನೇ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಕಾರ್ಯವನ್ನು ನೆರವೇರಿಸುವನು.

Word by Word

• athavā: or else
• athavā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• gacchata: go (you all)
• gacchata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• surāḥ: O gods
• surāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; addressed group

• brahmalokam: to Brahmaloka
• brahmalokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma-loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (brahmaṇaḥ lokaḥ)

• sa-vāsavāḥ: together with Vāsava (Indra)
• sa-vāsavāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह-अव्यय) + vāsava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव ‘with Indra’ qualifying ‘surāḥ’

• vṛttam: the event; what happened
• vṛttam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtta (प्रातिपदिक; √vṛt with kta)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kathayata: tell (you all)
• kathayata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kath (कथ् धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• svam: your own
• svam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies ‘vṛttam’

• tat: he (that one)
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; refers to Brahmā (context)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; resumptive pronoun

• vaḥ: for you; to you
• vaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (युष्मद् सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (Genitive/Dative), बहुवचन; here dative sense ‘for you’

• kāryam: the task; what is to be done
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kariṣyati: will do
• kariṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; Śiva redirects the devas to Brahmaloka, showing hierarchical cosmic administration under Śiva’s overarching sovereignty—Śiva uses intermediaries while remaining the supreme cause.

Significance: Teaches that even gods act through ordained channels; for devotees, it models seeking resolution through proper authority while recognizing Śiva as the ultimate governor behind outcomes.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Indra

FAQs

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

It shows Shiva as the supreme guide who directs even the devas to act in an orderly, dharmic way—seeking the appropriate cosmic authority (Brahmā) to resolve a situation, rather than acting from fear or pride.

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

Though not explicitly about the Liṅga, it reflects Saguna Shiva’s compassionate governance: the Lord engages with the world, protects devotees and gods, and ensures harmony through right channels—an attitude mirrored in devotional worship and surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is disciplined reliance on divine guidance: approach the Lord with a truthful account (satya), pray for right action, and support it with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to steady the mind before undertaking duties.