Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

मङ्गलपत्रिकाग्रहणम् — Reception of the Auspicious Marriage Invitation

Devanagari script

कार्यं मत्सदृशं किञ्चित्कथनीयन्त्वया विभो । मत्वा स्वसेवकं मां हि कृपां कुरु नमोऽस्तु ते

Transliteration

kāryaṃ matsadṛśaṃ kiñcitkathanīyantvayā vibho | matvā svasevakaṃ māṃ hi kṛpāṃ kuru namo'stu te

Translation

噢，遍一切处的主啊，愿你告知我一件与我相称之事。请视我为你的侍从而垂赐慈悲。顶礼于你。

Word by Word

• kāryam: a task, matter
• kāryam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mat-sadṛśam: similar to me / befitting me
• mat-sadṛśam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha; ‘mama sadṛśam’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kiñcit: some, a certain
• kiñcit: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiñcit (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite)

• kathanīyam: should be told
• kathanīyam: Kriya (क्रिया; विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kath (धातु)
• Form: अनीयर्/तव्यत्-अर्थक कृदन्त (Gerundive/Obligative; ‘to be told’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karta (कर्ता; कर्तव्यकर्मणि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vibho: O all-pervading one / O mighty one
• vibho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• matvā: having considered
• matvā: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having considered’

• sva-sevakam: (as) your own servant
• sva-sevakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + sevaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (Karmadharaya; ‘svaḥ sevakaḥ’), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• hi: indeed, surely
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, particle (निपात; emphasis/causal nuance)

• kṛpām: compassion, grace
• kṛpām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kuru: do, show
• kuru: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्राय (indeclinable interjection), नमस्कारार्थक (salutatory)

• astu: let there be
• astu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/benedictive sense), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान; चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन; enclitic form

Speaker

Parvati

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: namo'stu te

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse models śaraṇāgati (surrender): the devotee asks the Lord to assign a fitting duty and seeks His kṛpā. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, liberation is not forced by egoic effort but ripens through humble service and Shiva’s grace.

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

It reflects Saguna-upāsanā: approaching Shiva as the personal Lord who guides, accepts service, and bestows compassion. Linga worship is strengthened by this inner attitude—offering oneself as Shiva’s sevaka, not merely performing outer ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a daily seva-bhāva: offer simple Linga-pūjā (water, bilva), repeat “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and conclude with a prayer asking Shiva to direct your duty and grant kṛpā—mirroring the verse’s humility.