Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

त्रिपुरमोहनम्

Tripuramohana — “The Delusion/Enchanting of Tripura”

Devanagari script

धर्मो जीवदयातुल्यो न क्वापि जगतीतले । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कार्या जीवदया नृभिः

Transliteration

dharmo jīvadayātulyo na kvāpi jagatītale | tasmātsarvaprayatnena kāryā jīvadayā nṛbhiḥ

Translation

Auf dem Antlitz dieser Welt gibt es kein Dharma, das dem Mitgefühl gegenüber lebenden Wesen gleichkäme. Darum sollen die Menschen mit aller Kraft Güte und Erbarmen gegenüber allen Geschöpfen üben.

Word by Word

• धर्मः: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• जीवदया-तुल्यः: equal to compassion for living beings
• जीवदया-तुल्यः: Karta (कर्ता) के विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीवदया (प्रातिपदिक) + तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive Tatpurusha) अर्थः—‘जीवदयायाः तुल्यः’ (equal to compassion to living beings)

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

• क्वापि: anywhere
• क्वापि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘क्व’ (interrogative/locative adverb) + ‘अपि’ (particle) = अनिर्दिष्ट-स्थानवाचक (indefinite place adverb)

• जगती-तले: on the earth/world’s surface
• जगती-तले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत्/जगती (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘जगत्याः तले’ (on the surface of the world)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Reason marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगवत् निपात (indeclinable causal particle) अर्थः ‘अतः/तस्माद् हेतोः’ (therefore)

• सर्व-प्रयत्नेन: with all effort
• सर्व-प्रयत्नेन: Karana (करण/Instrument-means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय—‘सर्वः प्रयत्नः’ (all effort)

• कार्यā: should be done
• कार्यā: Karta (कर्ता) के विशेषण / विधेय (Predicate: should be done)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, भाव्य/कर्तव्य)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कृदन्त—‘कार्य’ (gerundive/कर्तव्यतार्थक, to be done)

• जीवदया: compassion to living beings
• जीवदया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक) + दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘जीवानां दया’ (compassion toward living beings)

• नृभिः: by men, by humans
• नृभिः: Kartr̥ (कर्ता/Agent; ‘by men’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares jīva-dayā (compassion to all beings) as the highest expression of dharma—an inner Shaiva discipline that softens ego, reduces karmic bondage (pāśa), and makes the heart fit for Shiva-bhakti and grace.

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

Linga worship is not merely ritual; it is meant to awaken Shiva-like qualities in the devotee. Showing compassion to living beings is a direct way of honoring Saguna Shiva present as the indwelling Lord in all creatures.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt ahimsa as a daily vrata alongside Shiva-upasana—offerings to the Linga with a compassionate mind, japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya), and restraint from harm in thought, word, and deed.