Shloka 51

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

धर्मादर्थोऽर्थतो भोगो भोगाद्वैराग्यसंभवः । धर्मार्जितार्थभोगेन वैराग्यमुपजायते

Transliteration

dharmādartho'rthato bhogo bhogādvairāgyasaṃbhavaḥ | dharmārjitārthabhogena vairāgyamupajāyate

Translation

Aus dem Dharma erwächst rechtmäßiger Wohlstand; aus Wohlstand entstehen die Genüsse des Lebens; und aus gereiftem Genuss entsteht Vairāgya (Loslösung). Wahrlich: Wer den durch Dharma erworbenen Wohlstand genießt, in dem wird Vairāgya geboren.

Word by Word

• धर्मात्: from dharma
• धर्मात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• अर्थः: wealth/purpose
• अर्थः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अर्थतः: from wealth; thence
• अर्थतः: सम्बन्ध/हेतु (Relation/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित/अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

• भोगः: enjoyment
• भोगः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भोगात्: from enjoyment
• भोगात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वैराग्य-सम्भवः: arising of dispassion
• वैराग्य-सम्भवः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वैराग्यस्य सम्भवः)

• धर्म-अर्जित-अर्थ-भोगेन: by enjoyment of wealth earned through dharma
• धर्म-अर्जित-अर्थ-भोगेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्जित (कृदन्त; √अर्ज् धातु) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (धर्मेण अर्जितः अर्थः, तस्य भोगः)

• वैराग्यम्: dispassion
• वैराग्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उपजायते: arises
• उपजायते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु) + उप (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific verse; it presents a pedagogic ladder: dharma → artha → bhoga → vairāgya, implying that worldly experience under Śiva’s veiling power can mature into detachment.

Significance: Frames household life as a preparatory path when aligned with dharma, culminating in dispassion that turns the soul toward Śiva.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches a Shaiva path of maturation: righteous living (dharma) supports legitimate prosperity and life-experience, and when those experiences are lived through dharma, the soul naturally develops vairāgya—an essential qualification for Shiva-realization and liberation.

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship purifies intention so that artha and bhoga are not pursued as bondage but as dharmic duties and offerings; this sanctified living ripens into detachment, making devotion steadier and turning the heart toward Pati (Shiva) rather than toward transient objects.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily Shiva-puja with the bhāva of offering (arpana)—mentally dedicate gains and enjoyments to Shiva, repeat the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and cultivate reflection on impermanence so that enjoyment culminates in vairāgya rather than attachment.