Shloka 24

मेना-हिमालयसंवादः

Menā’s Counsel to Himālaya; Response to Slander of Śiva

Devanagari script

शिव उवाच । ऋषयश्च सदा पूज्या भवन्तश्च विशेषतः । युष्माकं कारणाद्विप्राः स्मरणं च मया कृतम्

Transliteration

śiva uvāca | ṛṣayaśca sadā pūjyā bhavantaśca viśeṣataḥ | yuṣmākaṃ kāraṇādviprāḥ smaraṇaṃ ca mayā kṛtam

Translation

พระศิวะตรัสว่า: ฤๅษีทั้งหลายควรแก่การบูชาเสมอ และพวกท่านเหล่าพราหมณ์ยิ่งควรบูชาเป็นพิเศษ แท้จริงเพราะพวกท่านนี่เอง โอทวิชะทั้งหลาย เราจึงระลึกถึงเรื่องนี้

Word by Word

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

• ṛṣayaḥ: sages
• ṛṣayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (pl.)

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

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (time adverb)

• pūjyāḥ: are to be worshipped
• pūjyāḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (पूज् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (भाव्य/यत्), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘worthy of worship’

• bhavantaḥ: you (honoured ones)
• bhavantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (pl.); आदरार्थक सर्वनाम-प्रयोग (honorific ‘you’)

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

• viśeṣataḥ: especially
• viśeṣataḥ: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• yuṣmākam: of you
• yuṣmākam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuzmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Gen. 6), बहुवचन (pl.)

• kāraṇāt: because of
• kāraṇāt: Hetu/Apādāna (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), पञ्चमी (Abl. 5), एकवचन (sg.)

• viprāḥ: O brāhmaṇas
• viprāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (pl.)

• smaraṇam: remembrance, mention
• smaraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: smaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1/2), एकवचन (sg.)

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

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instr. 3), एकवचन (sg.)

• kṛtam: has been done
• kṛtam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1/2), एकवचन (sg.); ‘done/made’

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; Śiva’s statement elevates ṛṣis/brāhmaṇas as pūjya, aligning with dharma and the transmission of śiva-jñāna through seers.

Significance: Encourages honoring sages and learned brāhmaṇas as conduits of śāstra and mantra; such reverence supports eligibility (adhikāra) for Śaiva practice.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rishis

FAQs

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

It teaches that reverence for ṛṣis and realized brāhmaṇas is a sacred duty; honoring those who preserve and transmit śāstra supports right knowledge (jñāna) and devotion (bhakti) toward Pati (Śiva), aiding liberation.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is sustained by proper guidance and scriptural remembrance; Śiva here affirms the authority of sages whose teachings establish correct saguna-upāsanā and the inner intent behind external worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice respectful service and offerings to gurus/ṛṣis (satkāra), listen to śāstric recitation, and perform daily Shiva worship with right intention—supporting mantra-japa (e.g., pañcākṣarī) under learned guidance.