Shloka 65

Dehāśucitā-vicāraḥ

Inquiry into the Impurity of the Body

Devanagari script

धर्ममर्थं च कामं वा मोक्षं वातिजरातुरः । अशक्तस्साधितुं तस्माद्युवा धर्मं समाचरेत्

Transliteration

dharmamarthaṃ ca kāmaṃ vā mokṣaṃ vātijarāturaḥ | aśaktassādhituṃ tasmādyuvā dharmaṃ samācaret

Translation

One who is exceedingly aged and afflicted becomes unable to accomplish dharma, artha, kāma, or even mokṣa. Therefore, while still young, one should diligently practice dharma.

Word by Word

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अर्थम्: wealth/artha
• अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• कामम्: desire/kāma
• कामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• मोक्षम्: liberation
• मोक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• अति-जरातुरः: one extremely afflicted by old age
• अति-जरातुरः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + जरातुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समास: अति-जरातुर (कर्मधारय/उपसर्गपूर्वपद)

• अशक्तः: unable
• अशक्तः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• साधितुम्: to accomplish
• साधितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन) / infinitival complement
• Type: Verb
• Root: √साध् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (infinitive), कर्तरि प्रयोग

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावरूपेण निपातवत् (indeclinable ‘therefore/from that’), हेत्वर्थ

• युवा: a young man
• युवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• समाचरेत्: should practice
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + √चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Soteriological urgency: practice dharma (and by extension Śiva-upāsanā) while capable; frames mokṣa as dependent on timely sādhana and Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches urgency: because old age and illness weaken the body and mind, one should establish dharma and spiritual discipline early, so that the path to Shiva (Pati) and moksha is not delayed by incapacity.

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

By urging early dharmic living, the verse supports steady Saguna Shiva worship—daily Linga-puja, mantra-japa, and right conduct—so devotion becomes firm before physical decline, and ripens toward Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to begin consistent sadhana in youth—regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), simple Linga worship, and disciplined conduct—so practice remains stable even when old age arrives.