Shloka 16

Devanagari script

इदं चैवापरं देवि ब्रह्मणा समुदाह्नतम्‌ । अध्यात्मं नैछ्िकं सद्धिर्धर्मकामैनिषिव्यते,देवि! ब्रह्माजीनी यह एक बात और बतायी है--धर्मकी इच्छा रखनेवाले सत्पुरुषोंको आजीवन अध्यात्म-तत्त्वका ही सेवन करना चाहिये

Transliteration

idaṃ caivāparaṃ devi brahmaṇā samudāhṛtam | adhyātmaṃ naiṣṭhikaṃ sād-bhir dharma-kāmaiḥ niṣevyate devi ||

Translation

And, O Goddess, Brahmā has also declared this further point: those good and disciplined persons who truly desire dharma should devote themselves, throughout life, to steadfast inner spiritual practice (adhyātma). The teaching places ethical living on a foundation of sustained self-cultivation rather than mere outward observance.

Word by Word

इदम्this

चand

एवindeed/just

अपरम्another/further (thing)

देविO goddess

ब्रह्मणाby Brahmā

समुदाहृतम्declared/uttered

अध्यात्मम्spiritual knowledge/the self-doctrine

नैष्ठिकम्steadfast/constant (lifelong)

सद्भिःby the good (people)

धर्मकामैःby those desiring dharma (righteousness)

निषेव्यतेis to be practiced/should be resorted to

देविO goddess

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śrī Maheśvara (Śiva)

Devī

Brahmā

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Those who genuinely seek dharma should commit to steady, lifelong adhyātma—inner spiritual discipline and self-knowledge—because ethical life is sustained by inner transformation, not only external rites.

What is happening in the narrative?

Maheśvara addresses Devī and cites Brahmā as an authoritative source, adding a further instruction: virtuous people intent on dharma should continually cultivate adhyātma.