Shloka 16

धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्

Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct

Devanagari script

इदं चैवापरं देवि ब्रह्मणा समुदाह्नतम्‌ । अध्यात्मं नैछ्िकं सद्धिर्धर्मकामैनिषिव्यते

Transliteration

idaṃ caivāparaṃ devi brahmaṇā samudāhṛtam | adhyātmaṃ naiṣṭhikaṃ sād-bhir dharma-kāmaiḥ niṣevyate devi ||

Translation

Et, ô Déesse, Brahmā a encore proclamé ceci : les hommes de bien, maîtres d’eux-mêmes, qui désirent véritablement le dharma, doivent se vouer, toute leur vie, à la pratique intérieure et constante de l’adhyātma. L’enseignement fonde la conduite éthique sur une discipline de soi durable, plutôt que sur la seule observance extérieure.

Word by Word

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• अपरम्: another/further (thing)
• अपरम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• देवि: O goddess
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• समुदाहृतम्: declared/uttered
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उद्-आ-हृ
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अध्यात्मम्: spiritual knowledge/the self-doctrine
• अध्यात्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्यात्म
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• नैष्ठिकम्: steadfast/constant (lifelong)
• नैष्ठिकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नैष्ठिक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सद्भिः: by the good (people)
• सद्भिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• धर्मकामैः: by those desiring dharma (righteousness)
• धर्मकामैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मकाम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• निषेव्यते: is to be practiced/should be resorted to
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-सेव्
• Form: Lat (present), Ātmanepada, Third, Singular, Passive (impersonal/karmaṇi usage)

• देवि: O goddess
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Maheśvara (Śiva)
• Devī
• Brahmā

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Those who genuinely seek dharma should commit to steady, lifelong adhyātma—inner spiritual discipline and self-knowledge—because ethical life is sustained by inner transformation, not only external rites.

What is happening in the narrative?

Maheśvara addresses Devī and cites Brahmā as an authoritative source, adding a further instruction: virtuous people intent on dharma should continually cultivate adhyātma.