Shloka 3

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । दुष्कृतेन तु कालेय स्थानाद्भ्रश्यन्ति मानवाः । श्रेष्ठं स्थानं समासाद्य तस्माद्रक्षेत पण्डितः

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | duṣkṛtena tu kāleya sthānādbhraśyanti mānavāḥ | śreṣṭhaṃ sthānaṃ samāsādya tasmādrakṣeta paṇḍitaḥ

Translation

Sanatkumāra said: In times made adverse by evil deeds, people fall away from their proper station. Therefore, having attained the highest station, the wise person should guard it well.

Word by Word

• sanat-kumāraḥ: Sanatkumāra
• sanat-kumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanat (प्रातिपदिक) + kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: ‘ever-young Kumāra’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• duṣkṛtena: by evil deed; due to wrongdoing
• duṣkṛtena: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duṣkṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha/Discourse marker (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• kāle: in time; at a time
• kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: certainly/indeed
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-निपात)

• sthānāt: from (their) position/place
• sthānāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhraśyanti: fall down/decline
• bhraśyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhraṃś (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mānavāḥ: people/humans
• mānavāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śreṣṭham: best/excellent
• śreṣṭham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• sthānam: place/position
• sthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• sam-āsādya: having attained
• sam-āsādya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√sad (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्) from √sad with prefixes sam-ā; ‘having reached/attained’

• tasmāt: therefore/from that
• tasmāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine (नपुं/पुं), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन)

• rakṣet: should protect/guard
• rakṣet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rakṣ (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• paṇḍitaḥ: a wise man/scholar
• paṇḍitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṇḍita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

It warns that adverse, karma-driven times can cause spiritual decline; therefore a seeker who has attained a higher state of dharma or devotion must actively protect it through vigilance and discipline.

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

In Shaiva practice, reaching the “highest station” is stabilized by steady Saguna worship—Linga-pūjā, daily reverence, and remembrance of Shiva—so that one does not fall back into negligence under the pressure of time and karma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to safeguard spiritual attainment with regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and consistent observances (vrata, purity, and worship), especially during challenging periods.