Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

मेना-हिमालयसंवादः

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

Devanagari script

कथनीयं प्रयत्नेन वचनं वेदसम्मितम् । सर्वथा करणीयन्तद्यथा स्यात्कार्य्यमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

kathanīyaṃ prayatnena vacanaṃ vedasammitam | sarvathā karaṇīyantadyathā syātkāryyamuttamam

Translation

Dapat magsalita nang may taimtim na pagsisikap ng mga salitang kaayon ng mga Veda; at ang aral na iyon ay dapat isabuhay sa lahat ng paraan, upang ang nilalayong gawain ay maging pinakadakila at pinakamainam.

Word by Word

• कथनीयम्: should be said
• कथनीयम्: विधेय (predicate; कर्मणि-भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, अनीयर्/तव्यत्-अर्थक (gerundive: ‘to be said’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (predicative)

• प्रयत्नेन: with effort
• प्रयत्नेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; साधन/रीति (means/manner)

• वचनम्: the statement/words
• वचनम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• वेद-सम्-मितम्: in accordance with the Veda
• वेद-सम्-मितम्: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + सम् + मि (धातु) → मित (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) ‘measured/approved’; विशेषण of वचनम्

• सर्वथा: in every way
• सर्वथा: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• करणीयम्: should be done
• करणीयम्: विधेय (predicate; कर्मणि-भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, अनीयर्/तव्यत्-अर्थक (gerundive: ‘to be done’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय

• तत्: that
• तत्: अनुवृत्ति/सम्बन्ध (anaphoric reference)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• यथा: so that
• यथा: हेतु/प्रयोजन-सम्बन्ध (linking purpose/result)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (manner/so that)

• स्यात्: may be / would become
• स्यात्: क्रिया (verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• कार्य्यम्: the task/affair
• कार्य्यम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent, best
• उत्तमम्: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण of कार्य्यम्

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the Shiva Purana teaching to the sages, within the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Vedas

FAQs

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

It teaches Shaiva dharma as integrity: speech must be Veda-consistent and then embodied in action; such alignment purifies the pashu (bound soul) and supports steadiness in sādhanā leading toward Shiva’s grace.

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

Linga-worship is not only ritual form but disciplined conduct—truthful, Veda-honoring speech and corresponding practice. This makes pūjā ‘uttama’ (excellent), turning outer worship into inner conformity with Shiva’s dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a vrata-like discipline: speak satya and hita (truthful, beneficial words), keep vows consistently, and pair daily Shiva pūjā/japa (e.g., Panchākṣarī ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) with lived ethical practice so the sādhana bears the best fruit.