Shloka 4
कालयुक्तधर्मविवेकः
Discerning Dharma in Accord with Time
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच देवि धर्मार्थतत्त्वज्ञे धर्मनित्ये दमे रते । सर्वप्राणिहित: प्रश्न: श्रूयतां बुद्धिवर्धन:
śrīmaheśvara uvāca
Devi dharmārthatattvajñe dharmanitye dame rate |
sarvaprāṇihitaḥ praśnaḥ śrūyatāṃ buddhivardhanaḥ ||
শ্ৰী মহেশ্বৰে ক’লে—“দেৱী! তুমি ধৰ্ম আৰু অৰ্থৰ তত্ত্বজ্ঞানী, ধৰ্মত নিত্য স্থিত আৰু দমত ৰত। এই প্ৰশ্ন সৰ্বপ্ৰাণীৰ হিতাৰ্থে, বুদ্ধিবৰ্ধক—শুনা।”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical inquiry as universal in scope: a question should be asked and answered with the welfare of all beings in view, grounded in dharma, artha, and disciplined self-control, and aimed at increasing discernment (buddhi).
Śiva addresses the Goddess respectfully, praising her insight into dharma and artha and her self-restraint, and then invites her to listen as he introduces an inquiry presented as beneficial to all living beings.