Shloka 4
कालयुक्तधर्मविवेकः
Discerning Dharma in Accord with Time
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच देवि धर्मार्थतत्त्वज्ञे धर्मनित्ये दमे रते । सर्वप्राणिहित: प्रश्न: श्रूयतां बुद्धिवर्धन:
śrīmaheśvara uvāca
Devi dharmārthatattvajñe dharmanitye dame rate |
sarvaprāṇihitaḥ praśnaḥ śrūyatāṃ buddhivardhanaḥ ||
Śrī Maheshvara dit : «Ô Déesse, toi qui connais la vérité des principes du dharma et de l’artha, toujours constante dans la droiture et te plaisant à la maîtrise de soi, écoute maintenant cette question, posée pour le bien de tous les êtres vivants, une question qui accroît l’intelligence.»
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical inquiry as universal in scope: a question should be asked and answered with the welfare of all beings in view, grounded in dharma, artha, and disciplined self-control, and aimed at increasing discernment (buddhi).
Śiva addresses the Goddess respectfully, praising her insight into dharma and artha and her self-restraint, and then invites her to listen as he introduces an inquiry presented as beneficial to all living beings.