Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 32
तारकवाक्य-शक्रविष्णुवीरभद्रयुद्धवर्णनम् — Account of Tāraka’s declarations and the battle involving Śakra (Indra), Viṣṇu, and Vīrabhadra
जानन्तौ धर्ममेतौ न स्वार्थलंपटमानसौ । धर्मं विनाऽमराः कृत्यं निष्फलं सकलं भवेत्
jānantau dharmametau na svārthalaṃpaṭamānasau | dharmaṃ vinā'marāḥ kṛtyaṃ niṣphalaṃ sakalaṃ bhavet
Connaissant bien le dharma, ces deux-là n'étaient pas mus par des esprits avides de gain personnel. Car, ô immortels, sans le dharma, toute entreprise — quelle qu'elle soit — devient totalement infructueuse.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse teaches that dharma is the inner law that makes karma spiritually effective; actions driven by selfishness lose their sacred potency and cannot mature into merit or liberation. In Shaiva understanding, dharma aligns the soul’s conduct so grace and spiritual fruit can arise.
Linga-worship is not merely ritual performance; it must be supported by dharma—truthfulness, self-restraint, and selfless intent. When offerings and vows are done without righteous conduct, the act becomes externally religious but inwardly barren, yielding diminished spiritual benefit.
Perform Shiva-puja with dharmic intention: keep purity of conduct, avoid selfish motives, and accompany worship with steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya). Let vows and offerings be guided by truth, compassion, and restraint so the practice bears fruit.