Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

गणेशोत्पत्ति-प्रसङ्गः / Episode on the Origin of Gaṇeśa (Śvetakalpa Account)

Devanagari script

मदीयस्सेवकः कश्चिद्भवेच्छुभतरः कृती । मदाज्ञया परं नान्यद्रेखामात्रं चलेदिह

Transliteration

madīyassevakaḥ kaścidbhavecchubhataraḥ kṛtī | madājñayā paraṃ nānyadrekhāmātraṃ calediha

Translation

मदीयः सेवकः कश्चित् भवेत् शुभतरः कृती; मदाज्ञया परं नान्यत् रेखामात्रं चलेदिह।

Word by Word

• मदीयः: my
• मदीयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; स्वत्ववाचक (possessive)

• सेवकः: servant
• सेवकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कश्चित्: someone
• कश्चित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (निपात)
• Form: अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun), पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• शुभतरः: more auspicious/better
• शुभतरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative)

• कृती: capable/competent
• कृती: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मद्-आज्ञया: by my command
• मद्-आज्ञया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद् (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मम आज्ञा’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• परम्: anything else/further
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘अधिकम्/अन्यत्’ अर्थे

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अन्यत्: anything other
• अन्यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रेखा-मात्रम्: even a mere line
• रेखा-मात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेखा (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (मात्रार्थक): ‘रेखायाः मात्रम्/रेखामात्रम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चलेत्: should move/deviate
• चलेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चल् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the highest auspiciousness for a seeker is to become Shiva’s sevaka—one whose life is aligned with the Lord’s ājñā (divine ordinance). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, Pati (Shiva) rules and uplifts the pashu (soul) through grace and right discipline.

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee in surrender and steadiness: offerings, mantra, and vows are performed as Shiva’s command rather than personal preference. This verse underlines that Saguna Shiva, as the compassionate Lord, governs the devotee’s path and the world’s order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice disciplined Shiva-bhakti: daily japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), worship with purity and regularity, and vow-based conduct (niyama) so that one’s actions do not ‘move even a little’ away from Shiva’s will.