Shloka 13

आचार्य-धर्मलक्षण-श्रद्धाभक्तिप्राधान्यं तथा लिङ्गे ध्यान-पूजाविधानसंकेतः

Adhyaya 10

Devanagari script

अधारणे महत्त्वे च अधर्म इति चोच्यते अत्रेष्टप्रापको धर्म आचार्यैरुपदिश्यते

Transliteration

adhāraṇe mahattve ca adharma iti cocyate atreṣṭaprāpako dharma ācāryairupadiśyate

Translation

That which fails to uphold the right order and yet claims greatness is called adharma. Here, the ācāryas teach dharma as that which truly upholds and leads the paśu (soul) to the attainment of the desired good—ultimately the grace of Pati, Śiva.

Word by Word

• adhāraṇe: in non-upholding/that which does not sustain

• mahattve: in (mere) greatness/pretended importance

• ca: and

• adharmaḥ: adharma, unrighteousness

• iti: thus

• ca: and

• ucyate: is called/declared

• atra: here/in this context

• iṣṭa-prāpakaḥ: that which brings attainment of the desired goal

• dharmaḥ: dharma, righteous duty/order

• ācāryaiḥ: by the teachers/ācāryas

• upadiśyate: is taught/expounded

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating traditional definitions as taught by ācāryas)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames dharma as the force that upholds order and grants the sought fruit; in Linga worship, this means ritual and conduct must be sustaining, humble, and aligned with Śiva (Pati), not merely outwardly “great.”

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva is implied as the highest aim behind “iṣṭa” (the true desired good): the Pati whose grace is reached through dharma that upholds, rather than adharma that destabilizes.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A principle of Pāśupata discipline is implied: right conduct and sustaining practice (dharma) is the means to attain the intended fruit, whereas showy “greatness” without support is adharma.