Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

एवस्मात्कारणाद्विप्राः श्रूयतां परमार्थतः । स्वजात्युक्तं तु यत्कर्म कर्तव्यं तत्प्रयत्नतः

Transliteration

evasmātkāraṇādviprāḥ śrūyatāṃ paramārthataḥ | svajātyuktaṃ tu yatkarma kartavyaṃ tatprayatnataḥ

Translation

അതുകൊണ്ട്, ഹേ വിപ്രന്മാരേ, പരമാർത്ഥമായി കേൾക്കുവിൻ—സ്വജന്മസ്ഥാനത്തിന് (സ്വജാതി/വർണാശ്രമ) വിധിക്കപ്പെട്ട കർത്തവ്യകർമ്മം പരിശ്രമത്തോടെ നിർബന്ധമായി ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• एव: thus/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक (emphatic/only)

• अस्मात्: from this
• अस्मात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• कारणात्: from the reason/cause
• कारणात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• विप्राः: O brāhmaṇas
• विप्राः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• श्रूयताम्: let it be heard / listen
• श्रूयताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः: ‘let it be heard / please listen’

• परमार्थतः: truly/in ultimate truth
• परमार्थतः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परमार्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित)
• Form: तस्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय, अर्थः: ‘परमार्थेन/तत्त्वतः’ (in the highest sense, truly)

• स्वजात्युक्तम्: enjoined for one’s own varṇa
• स्वजात्युक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वजाति (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वजात्या उक्तम् = ‘prescribed according to one’s own caste’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कर्म’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विशेष/विरोधार्थक

• यत्: which/whatever
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative)

• कर्म: duty/action
• कर्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Vidhi (विधेय/आज्ञार्थ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृत्य (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be done/ought to be done’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तत् कर्म’ इत्यर्थे निर्देशः

• प्रयत्नतः: with effort/diligently
• प्रयत्नतः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित)
• Form: तस्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय, अर्थः: ‘प्रयत्नेन/यत्नपूर्वकं’ (with effort)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a single shrine; it pivots from the arcā/jñāna discussion to dharma as stabilizing discipline for embodied souls.

Significance: General: pilgrimage and temple life are framed within dharma—performing one’s prescribed duties with effort supports purification and readiness for Śiva-jñāna.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that spiritual progress begins with disciplined fulfillment of one’s rightful duties (svadharma), done sincerely—making the mind fit for Shiva-bhakti and, ultimately, Shiva’s grace that loosens the bonds of karma.

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

In the Shiva Purana, outward worship of Saguna Shiva (including Linga-puja) is strengthened when one’s life is grounded in dharma; proper conduct and duty make devotion steady and the results of worship spiritually fruitful.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse emphasizes earnest practice: perform daily duties with purity and then support them with Shiva-smarana—such as japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and regular Linga worship according to one’s capacity.