Shloka 45

वीरभद्र-भैरव-आह्वानम् — Invocation of Vīrabhadra/Bhairava for Cosmic Reabsorption

Devanagari script

उपकारो हि साधूनां सुखाय किल संमतः । उपकारो ह्यसाधूनामपकाराय केवलम्

Transliteration

upakāro hi sādhūnāṃ sukhāya kila saṃmataḥ | upakāro hyasādhūnāmapakārāya kevalam

Translation

Indeed, kindness shown to the virtuous is accepted as a cause of happiness; but kindness shown to the unvirtuous becomes only a cause of harm.

Word by Word

• उपकारः: help; benefaction
• उपकारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• हि: indeed; for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• साधूनाम्: of the good people
• साधूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• सुखाय: for happiness
• सुखाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• किल: indeed; it is said
• किल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; प्रसिद्ध्यर्थे/श्रुत्यर्थे

• संमतः: is considered/approved
• संमतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + मन् (धातु) → संमत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘संमत’ = accepted/approved

• उपकारः: help; benefaction
• उपकारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• असाधूनाम्: of the wicked
• असाधूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असाधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• अपकाराय: for harm
• अपकाराय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• केवलम्: only; merely
• केवलम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणवत् अव्ययप्रयोगः (adverbial use), ‘only/merely’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana’s teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches viveka (discernment): dharmic help offered to sādhus supports harmony and inner welfare, while aiding the adharmic can strengthen bondage (pāśa) and produce negative karmic outcomes.

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee in purity, truthfulness, and right action; this verse applies that same Shaiva ethic—devotion to Saguna Shiva must mature into dharmic judgment, not indiscriminate enabling of adharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Before dāna or service, mentally offer the act to Shiva with the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and examine whether it supports dharma; pair it with Tripuṇḍra/bhasma remembrance of impermanence to avoid attachment-driven charity.