Shloka 7

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

सर्वो ह्युषःप्राचीमुखश्चिन्तयेद्देवपूर्वकान् । धर्मानर्थांश्च तत्क्लेशानायं च व्ययमेव च

Transliteration

sarvo hyuṣaḥprācīmukhaścintayeddevapūrvakān | dharmānarthāṃśca tatkleśānāyaṃ ca vyayameva ca

Translation

Indeed, at dawn, facing the east, every person should reflect—placing the Deity first—upon dharma and rightful aims, upon the hardships that follow their opposites, and also upon one’s gains and one’s expenditures.

Word by Word

• सर्वः: everyone
• सर्वः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/causal)

• उषः-प्राची-मुखः: facing east at dawn
• उषः-प्राची-मुखः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उषस् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राची (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); बहु-तत्पुरुष: उषसि प्राच्यां मुखं यस्य/उषःकाले प्राचीमुखः (east-facing at dawn)

• चिन्तयेत्: should contemplate/think of
• चिन्तयेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• देव-पूर्वकान्: beginning with the gods
• देव-पूर्वकान्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of objects)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष: देवः पूर्वः येषाम् (beginning with the gods)

• धर्मान्: duties/virtues
• धर्मान्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अर्थान्: goals/wealth/meanings
• अर्थान्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्-क्लेशान्: their afflictions
• तत्-क्लेशान्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + क्लेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष: तेषां क्लेशान् (their troubles)

• आयम्: income/gain
• आयम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• व्ययम्: expenditure/loss
• व्ययम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: General tīrtha/temple-discipline: beginning the day with deva-smaraṇa and dharma-vicāra is presented as a purifier of intention (saṅkalpa-śuddhi), supporting fruitful worship and right action.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches a Shaiva daily discipline: begin the day with God-first awareness and truthful self-audit—aligning dharma and life-goals while recognizing that adharma leads to kleśa (bondage and distress).

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

Facing east at dawn and placing the Deity first supports Saguna Shiva worship—mentally offering one’s intentions, actions, and resources to Shiva (often before Linga-pūjā), so life becomes ordered around devotion and dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A dawn practice: sit facing east, remember Shiva (e.g., mentally recite the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), then review dharma vs. adharma outcomes and make a clear resolve regarding gains and expenses in a dharmic way.