Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

देवर्षि-प्रश्नः तथा असुर-वध-हेतुनिवेदनम् | The Devas’ Petition and the Cause for Slaying Asuras

Devanagari script

न स्वार्थं मे प्रवृत्तिर्हि सम्यक्स्वार्थविचिंतनात् । तथापि तत्करिष्यामि भवदुक्तं जगद्धितम्

Transliteration

na svārthaṃ me pravṛttirhi samyaksvārthaviciṃtanāt | tathāpi tatkariṣyāmi bhavaduktaṃ jagaddhitam

Translation

నా కార్యప్రవృత్తి స్వార్థం కోసం కాదు; నిజమైన స్వార్థం ఏమిటో నేను సమ్యక్‌గా విచారించాను. అయినా, మీరు చెప్పిన జగద్ధితకరమైన మాటను నేను తప్పక ఆచరిస్తాను.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• svārtham: one's own interest
• svārtham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva-artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (स्वस्य अर्थः)

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• pravṛttiḥ: inclination/engagement
• pravṛttiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (emphatic/causal particle)

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• svārtha-vicintanāt: from considering one's own interest
• svārtha-vicintanāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतुः/अपादानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svārtha-vicintana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (स्वार्थस्य विचिन्तनम्)

• tathāpi: nevertheless
• tathāpi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विरोधार्थक-अव्ययसमूहः (concessive: 'even so')

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

• kariṣyāmi: I will do
• kariṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• bhavat-uktam: said by you
• bhavat-uktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhavat + ukta (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभावः—'भवता उक्तम्' (said by you); उक्‍त = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• jagat-hitām: beneficial to the world
• jagat-hitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jagat-hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (जगतः हितम्)

Speaker

Satī (Pārvatī in her incarnation as Satī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Sati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches niṣkāma resolve grounded in discernment: when one understands “true self-interest” as alignment with dharma and Shiva’s grace, personal desire falls away and action becomes jagat-hita (welfare of all).

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

In Shaiva practice, worship of the Linga (Saguna Shiva as an accessible support) trains the devotee to surrender egoic motives; this verse mirrors that surrender—doing what is instructed because it serves the cosmic good upheld by Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt niṣkāma-bhāva during Shiva-pūjā: offer actions mentally at the Linga while repeating the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” dedicating the fruit of worship to jagat-hita rather than personal gain.