Shloka 13

Varṇa-adhikāra, Karma, and the Protection of One’s Attained Spiritual Status (वर्णाधिकारः कर्म च स्वस्थानरक्षणम्)

Devanagari script

आर्द्रहस्तपदो नित्यं क्षितिं धर्मेण पालयेत् । ऋतुकालाभिगामी च स्वभार्य्याधर्मतत्परः

Transliteration

ārdrahastapado nityaṃ kṣitiṃ dharmeṇa pālayet | ṛtukālābhigāmī ca svabhāryyādharmatatparaḥ

Translation

Les mains et les pieds toujours prêts au service compatissant, il doit protéger la terre selon le dharma. Il ne doit s’approcher de son épouse qu’en la saison convenable, voué au devoir juste de fidélité envers sa propre compagne.

Word by Word

• आर्द्रहस्तपदः: having moist hands and feet
• आर्द्रहस्तपदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्द्र-हस्त-पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘आर्द्रौ हस्तपादौ यस्य सः’ (one whose hands and feet are moist/soft)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-Visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण; अव्ययप्रयोग (adverb: always)

• क्षितिम्: the earth/kingdom
• क्षितिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (accusative singular)

• धर्मेण: by righteousness/according to dharma
• धर्मेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• पालयेत्: should protect/govern
• पालयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘should protect/rule’

• ऋतुकालाभिगामी: one who approaches (his wife) in the proper season
• ऋतुकालाभिगामी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋतु-काल-अभिगामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘ऋतुकाले अभिगामी’ (one who approaches at the proper season)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• स्वभार्याधर्मतत्परः: devoted to the duty regarding his own wife
• स्वभार्याधर्मतत्परः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व-भार्या-धर्म-तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘स्वभार्यायाः धर्मे तत्परः’ (devoted to the duty toward one’s own wife)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Umāsaṃhitā’s dharma-teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It presents dharma as a Shaiva discipline: compassionate governance and restrained conduct purify the pashu (bound soul), making the mind fit for Shiva-bhakti and liberation under Pati (Lord Shiva).

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

Linga-worship is supported by ethical purity: a ruler or householder who protects others and practices fidelity offers a life of dharma as an inner oblation to Saguna Shiva, strengthening devotion and steadiness in worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse primarily teaches yama-like restraint (self-control and fidelity). As a Shaiva takeaway, one may pair such conduct with daily Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple Linga-upachara performed with a purified, disciplined mind.