Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य ब्रह्माहं देवसत्तमैः । आगच्छं च स्वकं धाम हर्षनिर्भरमानसः

Transliteration

tacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasya brahmāhaṃ devasattamaiḥ | āgacchaṃ ca svakaṃ dhāma harṣanirbharamānasaḥ

Translation

അവന്റെ വചനം കേട്ട് ഞാൻ ബ്രഹ്മാവ്, ദേവസത്തമരോടൊപ്പം, ഹർഷം നിറഞ്ഞ മനസ്സോടെ എന്റെ ധാമത്തിലേക്ക് മടങ്ങി വന്നു.

Word by Word

• tat: that (it)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having done)

• vacanam: speech, statement
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (ब्रह्मन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• deva-sattamaiḥ: with the best of the gods
• deva-sattamaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (देव प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (सत्तम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (देवानां सत्तमाः)

• āgaccham: I came
• āgaccham: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√gam (आ + गम् धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• svakam: one's own
• svakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svaka (स्वक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• dhāma: abode
• dhāma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhāman (धामन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• harṣa-nirbhara-mānasaḥ: whose mind was filled with joy
• harṣa-nirbhara-mānasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: harṣa (हर्ष) + nirbhara (निर्भर) + mānasa (मानस)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (हर्षेण निर्भरं मानसं यस्य) विशेषणरूपेण

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: No Jyotirliṅga reference; the verse marks the affective result of receiving Śiva’s instruction—Brahmā returns joyfully, indicating the transformative impact of divine teaching (anugraha) on the bound soul’s orientation.

Significance: Models the inner fruit of śravaṇa (hearing) of Śiva’s teaching: harṣa (joy) and renewed commitment to transmit dharma—an inner ‘tīrtha’ of purified mind.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Devas

FAQs

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

It shows the proper response to divine instruction: humility, compliance, and inner upliftment—signs that grace (anugraha) has touched the mind, aligning the soul toward Shiva, the supreme Pati.

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

Although the verse is narrative, it reflects Saguna Shiva’s accessible guidance: the devas and Brahmā act upon a personal Lord’s word, illustrating devotional obedience that supports Linga-centered worship and reverence for Shiva’s manifest authority.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śravaṇa (devout listening) and smaraṇa (remembrance) of Shiva’s instruction—paired with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to stabilize the joyful, surrendered mind.