Shloka 1

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

ऋषय ऊचुः । सदाचारं श्रावयाशु येन लोकाञ्जयेद्बुधः । धर्माधर्ममयान्ब्रूहि स्वर्गनारकदांस्तथा

Transliteration

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | sadācāraṃ śrāvayāśu yena lokāñjayedbudhaḥ | dharmādharmamayānbrūhi svarganārakadāṃstathā

Translation

The sages said: “Teach us swiftly sadācāra, the code of right conduct by which a wise person conquers the worlds. Also explain actions that are of the nature of dharma and adharma, and those that bestow heaven and hell respectively.”

Word by Word

• ṛṣayaḥ: the sages
• ṛṣayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (ऋषि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1 विभक्ति), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ūcuḥ: said
• ūcuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sad-ācāram: good conduct
• sad-ācāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (सत्-प्रातिपदिक) + ācāra (आचार-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: सद् आचारः = good conduct

• śrāvaya: make (us) hear/teach
• śrāvaya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Causative (णिच्) imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• āśu: quickly
• āśu: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक/शीघ्रार्थक अव्यय)

• yena: by which
• yena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्-सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• lokān: worlds/people
• lokān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (लोक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2 विभक्ति), Plural (बहुवचन)

• jayet: may conquer
• jayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ji (जि धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• budhaḥ: a wise man
• budhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (बुध-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन)

• dharma-adharma-mayān: consisting of dharma and adharma
• dharma-adharma-mayān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (धर्म-प्रातिपदिक) + adharma (अधर्म-प्रातिपदिक) + maya (मय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2 विभक्ति), Plural (बहुवचन); compound: धर्म + अधर्म (द्वन्द्व) + मय (possessing/consisting of)

• brūhi: tell
• brūhi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• svarga-nāraka-dān: giving heaven and hell (i.e., leading to either)
• svarga-nāraka-dān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svarga (स्वर्ग-प्रातिपदिक) + nāraka (नारक-प्रातिपदिक) + da (द-प्रातिपदिक from √dā (दा) 'giver')
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2 विभक्ति), Plural (बहुवचन); compound: स्वर्ग + नारक (द्वन्द्व) qualifying दान् = giving heaven and hell

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle (तथार्थक अव्यय)

Speaker

The sages (ṛṣis) of Naimiṣāraṇya

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

FAQs

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

This verse frames the Shaiva path as disciplined living (sadācāra) guided by discernment between dharma and adharma, emphasizing that spiritual progress and worldly outcomes arise from rightly aligned action.

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

Linga worship in the Shiva Purana is not isolated ritualism; it is supported by sadācāra—purity, restraint, truthfulness, and devotion—so that external worship of Saguna Shiva becomes an inner transformation aligned with dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse primarily requests ethical discipline, which traditionally supports Shaiva sādhanā such as daily Shiva-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and observances done with purity and self-control.