Shloka 15

ब्राह्मणीस्वर्गतिवर्णनम्

Brāhmaṇī-Svargati-Varṇana: Account of a Brāhmaṇa Woman’s Ascent to Heaven

Devanagari script

स्वकर्मणा भवेद्दुखं सुखं तेनैव कर्मणा । तस्माच्च पूज्यते कर्म सर्वं कर्मणि संस्थितम

Transliteration

svakarmaṇā bhaveddukhaṃ sukhaṃ tenaiva karmaṇā | tasmācca pūjyate karma sarvaṃ karmaṇi saṃsthitama

Translation

By one’s own actions arise sorrow, and by those very actions arise happiness. Therefore karma is to be revered, for everything stands established upon karma.

Word by Word

• स्व-कर्मणा: by one’s own action
• स्व-कर्मणा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (स्वं कर्म)

• भवेत्: would become/arises
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दुःखम्: sorrow
• दुःखम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तेन: by that
• तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• कर्मणा: by action
• कर्मणा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (अव्यय/तद्-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निष्कर्षसूचक (therefore)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• पूज्यते: is worshipped
• पूज्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive)

• कर्म: action/karma
• कर्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कर्मणि: in action
• कर्मणि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• संस्थितम्: established/contained
• संस्थितम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपसर्गः—सम्

Speaker

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

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

FAQs

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

It teaches moral and spiritual responsibility: pleasure and pain are fruits of one’s own karma, so a seeker should refine actions through dharma and Shiva-bhakti, directing karma toward purification and liberation.

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

In the Shiva Purana, worship (pūjā) is itself a sacred karma; offering actions to Saguna Shiva (the Linga) sanctifies the doer, aligns life with dharma, and supports the gradual loosening of pāśa (bondage) that obstructs realization of Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform daily Shiva-pūjā as karma-yoga—offer water, bilva leaves, and japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” dedicating the fruit of all actions to Shiva to purify karma and steady the mind.