Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

यद्यज्जातिसमुद्दिष्टं तत्तत्कर्म न लंघयेत् । यावद्दानस्य संपत्तिस्तावत्कर्म समावहेत्

Transliteration

yadyajjātisamuddiṣṭaṃ tattatkarma na laṃghayet | yāvaddānasya saṃpattistāvatkarma samāvahet

Translation

กิจใดที่กำหนดไว้ตามวรรณะ/อาศรมของตน พึงอย่าล่วงละเมิด. ตราบเท่าที่ยังมีทรัพย์และกำลังเพื่อการทาน พึงประกอบกิจและธรรมแห่งทานนั้นอย่างสม่ำเสมอ.

Word by Word

• यत्: whatever (that which)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; relative pronoun (यद्)

• यत्: each (whatever)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; repetition for distributive sense

• जाति-समुद्दिष्टम्: prescribed/indicated according to one’s class (jati)
• जाति-समुद्दिष्टम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक) + समुद्दिष्ट (सम्+उद्+√दिश्, क्त—कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally; तत्पुरुषः (जात्या समुद्दिष्टम्)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• तत्: each such
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; distributive repetition

• कर्म: duty/action
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• लङ्घयेत्: should transgress/overstep
• लङ्घयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लङ्घ् (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्, optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यावत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; correlative ‘as long as/so long as’ (यावत्…तावत्)

• दानस्य: of giving/charity
• दानस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th—षष्ठी), Singular

• संपत्तिः: capacity/means/wealth
• संपत्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्पत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular

• तावत्: so long/that much
• तावत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तावत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; correlative ‘so long/that long’

• कर्म: duty/action
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd—द्वितीया), Singular

• समावहेत्: should undertake/perform/carry out
• समावहेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+आ+√वह् (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्, optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it is dharma-śikṣā: adherence to one’s prescribed duties and sustained charity according to capacity.

Significance: Supports the pilgrim ethic: do not abandon dharma under the pretext of devotion; charity and duty, done within one’s means, are stabilizing supports for Śiva-bhakti.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that steadfastness in one’s rightful dharma and sincere charity purify the pashu (bound soul) and make the mind fit for Shiva-bhakti and grace, aligning action with righteous order rather than egoic impulse.

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

In Shaiva practice, Linga-worship is supported by dharmic living—especially dana and disciplined conduct—so offerings and worship become sattvic, humble, and receptive to the presence of Saguna Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice regular dana according to capacity, and pair it with daily Shiva-upasana—such as japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple Linga offerings—without neglecting one’s ordained duties.