Shloka 65

मेना-हिमालयसंवादः

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

Devanagari script

तथापि किञ्चित्कार्यं च सदृशं सेवकस्य मे । कथनीयं सुदयया सफलं स्याज्जनुर्मम

Transliteration

tathāpi kiñcitkāryaṃ ca sadṛśaṃ sevakasya me | kathanīyaṃ sudayayā saphalaṃ syājjanurmama

Translation

ถึงกระนั้น ในฐานะผู้รับใช้ของพระองค์ ยังมีหน้าที่บางอย่างที่เหมาะแก่ข้าพเจ้า โปรดเมตตาบอกเถิด เพื่อให้การเกิดของข้าพเจ้าสำเร็จผล

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, even so
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (even/also)

• किञ्चित्: some, a little
• किञ्चित्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (निपात)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (indefinite pronoun), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• कार्यम्: task, duty
• कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

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

• सदृशम्: befitting, similar/appropriate
• सदृशम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• सेवकस्य: of the servant
• सेवकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• मे: my / to me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (Genitive/Dative), एकवचन; enclitic form

• कथनीयम्: to be said, should be spoken
• कथनीयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + अनीय (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (अनीयर्/अनीयत्-प्रत्यय; gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (to be said)

• सु-दयया: with great compassion
• सु-दयया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—सु + दया = 'great compassion'

• सफलम्: fruitful, successful
• सफलम्: Predicative (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सफल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्यात्: may be, should become
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• जनुः: birth, life
• जनुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनुस्/जनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मम: of me, my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Parvati

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse is a personal supplication of Pārvatī to Śiva for instruction on a fitting service (sevā) that makes life fruitful; it is not tied to a specific Jyotirliṅga origin episode.

Significance: Frames the pilgrim’s inner attitude: approaching Śiva as sevaka (servant) and seeking upadeśa so that janma becomes saphala (fulfilled).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse expresses dāsya-bhāva—humble servant-like surrender—where the devotee asks for guidance so life becomes meaningful through Shiva’s grace (anugraha), aligning action with devotion rather than ego.

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

By approaching Shiva as the compassionate Lord who instructs the devotee, it supports Saguna-upāsanā: worship of Shiva with attributes (as the personal guide). Linga worship similarly embodies serving Shiva through prescribed duties and reverent discipline.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is prayerful surrender and seeking instruction (guru-bhāva toward Shiva), supported by daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple acts of seva in Shiva worship (e.g., offering water, bilva, and maintaining purity).