Shloka 38

Kṣetra–Kāla–Phala-kramaḥ

Hierarchy of Sacred Place, Time, and Ritual Fruit

Devanagari script

लक्ष्मीबुद्ध्या युवस्त्रीषु भोगकामैर्नरोत्तमैः । वृद्धासु पार्वतीबुद्ध्या देयमात्मार्थिभिर्जनैः

Transliteration

lakṣmībuddhyā yuvastrīṣu bhogakāmairnarottamaiḥ | vṛddhāsu pārvatībuddhyā deyamātmārthibhirjanaiḥ

Translation

Noble men who seek enjoyment should regard young women with the awareness of Lakṣmī; and those who seek the welfare of the Self should give (charity and service) to elderly women, regarding them with the awareness of Pārvatī.

Word by Word

• lakṣmī-buddhyā: with the attitude (seeing as) Lakṣmī
• lakṣmī-buddhyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘with the notion of Lakṣmī’; manner-instrumental

• yuva-strīṣu: among young women
• yuva-strīṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuva (प्रातिपदिक) + strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘young women’; locus/adhikaraṇa

• bhoga-kāmaiḥ: by those desiring pleasures
• bhoga-kāmaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhoga (प्रातिपदिक) + kāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘desirous of enjoyment’; agent-instrumental

• nara-uttamaiḥ: by the best men
• nara-uttamaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; apposition to bhogakāmaiḥ

• vṛddhāsu: among old women
• vṛddhāsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛddhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Bahuvacana

• pārvatī-buddhyā: with the attitude (seeing as) Pārvatī
• pārvatī-buddhyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārvatī (प्रातिपदिक) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘with the notion of Pārvatī’; manner-instrumental

• deyam: should be given
• deyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु) + yat (यत्)
• Form: Gerundive (कृत्य/यत्), Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; impersonal predicate ‘should be given’

• ātma-arthibhiḥ: by those seeking the Self/their own good
• ātma-arthibhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + arthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘self-seeking/for one’s own spiritual good’; agent-instrumental

• janaiḥ: by people
• janaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; apposition to ātmārthibhiḥ

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Tryambakeśvara

Sthala Purana: Tryambaka is closely linked with Umā and household dharma; the verse frames desire (bhoga) and self-welfare (ātma-artha) through distinct devotional attitudes toward Śakti—Lakṣmī-bhāva and Pārvatī-bhāva—guiding the pashu from worldly aims toward higher good.

Significance: Reorients kāma toward dharma and elevates sevā into sādhana; encourages purity of gaze and intention in social relations.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Lakshmi

FAQs

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

It trains the devotee’s vision (bhāva) to recognize Śakti everywhere: honoring women as manifestations of divine power, and directing desire toward dharmic restraint and the higher aim of ātma-kalyāṇa (spiritual welfare).

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

Linga worship in the Shiva Purana is paired with reverence for Shiva’s Śakti; seeing Pārvatī in the venerable and practicing service/dāna becomes a living extension of Saguna devotion—offering respect to Shiva-Shakti through one’s conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice bhāva-śuddhi (purifying perception) by mentally offering respect as if to Devī, and perform dāna/sevā—especially to the elderly and vulnerable—as a devotional act aligned with Shaiva dharma.