Shloka 22
मेना-हिमालयसंवादः
Menā’s Counsel to Himālaya; Response to Slander of Śiva
पूर्णानां किञ्च कर्तव्यमस्ति चेत्परमा कृपा । सदृशं सेवकानां तु देयं कार्यं त्वया शुभम्
pūrṇānāṃ kiñca kartavyamasti cetparamā kṛpā | sadṛśaṃ sevakānāṃ tu deyaṃ kāryaṃ tvayā śubham
ഇതിനകം പൂർണ്ണരായവർക്കും എന്തെങ്കിലും ചെയ്യേണ്ടതായി ശേഷിക്കുന്നുണ്ടെങ്കിൽ, അതാണ് പരമകൃപ. അതിനാൽ സേവകര്ക്ക് യോജിച്ചതായ ശുഭകർമ്മവും യോഗ്യമായ ദാനവും നീ കൃപയോടെ നൽകണം.
Goddess Pārvatī (addressing Lord Śiva, inferred from Pārvatīkhaṇḍa context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; the verse articulates the logic of grace: even for the ‘pūrṇa’ (fulfilled), the only remaining ‘act’ is compassion—bestowing auspicious duty/gift to devotees.
Significance: Encourages devotees to seek not worldly surplus but Śiva’s ‘śubha’ bestowal—service (kārya) and grace (deya) that ripens liberation.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that the highest form of compassion is to act for the welfare of others even when one has nothing personal to gain—an expression of divine grace that supports dharma and purifies the heart through selfless seva.
In Saguna worship, devotion is expressed not only through offerings to Śiva (often via the Liṅga) but also through honoring His retinue and devotees; giving what is ‘fitting’ reflects right intention, humility, and reverence within Shaiva practice.
The takeaway is seva as sādhanā: perform an auspicious, appropriate service and give suitable dāna; this can be paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to cultivate grace-oriented action.