Shloka 26

Gautama–Ahalyā-Upākhyāna: Durbhikṣa, Tapas, and Varuṇa’s Boon (गौतमाहल्योपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

दयालुरमदस्पर्श उपकारी जितेन्द्रियः । एतैश्च पुण्यस्तम्भैस्तु चतुर्भिर्धार्य्यते मही

Transliteration

dayāluramadasparśa upakārī jitendriyaḥ | etaiśca puṇyastambhaistu caturbhirdhāryyate mahī

Translation

Compassionate, untouched by intoxication and pride, helpful to others, and self-controlled—by these four pillars of merit the earth is truly upheld.

Word by Word

• dayāluḥ: compassionate
• dayāluḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject, implied ‘saḥ’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dayālu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective (one who is compassionate)

• amada-sparśaḥ: untouched by pride/intoxication
• amada-sparśaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + mada (प्रातिपदिक) + sparśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समास: तत्पुरुष (नञ्-तत्पुरुष) = ‘मदस्य अभावः’ + ‘स्पर्शः’ → ‘untouched by intoxication/pride’

• upakārī: helpful
• upakārī: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upakārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agent-noun adjective (उपकारिन्)

• jita-indriyaḥ: self-controlled (having conquered the senses)
• jita-indriyaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita (कृदन्त; √ji ‘to conquer’) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समास: तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रियाणि जितानि येन/यस्य) used adjectivally; ‘jita’ = past passive participle (क्त)

• etaiḥ: by these
• etaiḥ: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; demonstrative pronoun

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• puṇya-stambhaiḥ: by the virtuous pillars
• puṇya-stambhaiḥ: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + stambha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; समास: कर्मधारय (‘puṇyāḥ stambhāḥ’ = ‘virtuous pillars’)

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adversative/emphatic particle (तु)

• caturbhiḥ: by four
• caturbhiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; numeral adjective qualifying ‘stambhaiḥ’

• dhāryate: is sustained/held
• dhāryate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahī: the earth
• mahī: Karma (कर्म/subject of passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Tryambakeśvara

Sthala Purana: As part of the Tryambakeśvara-māhātmya’s ethical teaching, the verse declares four ‘puṇya-stambhas’ (pillars of merit) that uphold the earth: compassion, freedom from pride/intoxication, helpfulness, and sense-control—virtues that make a pilgrim fit for Śiva’s anugraha.

Significance: Interprets pilgrimage not merely as travel but as inner discipline (jitendriyatā) and social virtue (dayā, upakāra), aligning the devotee with the sustaining order of the kṣetra.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that spiritual life is grounded in four Shaiva-aligned virtues—compassion, freedom from pride/intoxication, service, and sense-mastery—without which devotion becomes merely external.

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

Linga-worship is not only ritual; it must be supported by inner purity. These virtues stabilize the devotee’s mind so Saguna Shiva worship becomes a means to grace (anugraha) and liberation rather than a display of ego.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice sense-restraint with daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offer seva to devotees and beings, and cultivate humility—supporting external worship such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa with inner discipline.