Shloka 75

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

अथवा पापबुद्धिः स्यात्क्षयं वा सत्यमेष्यति । वृद्धिवाणिज्यके देयष्षडंशो हि विचक्षणैः

Transliteration

athavā pāpabuddhiḥ syātkṣayaṃ vā satyameṣyati | vṛddhivāṇijyake deyaṣṣaḍaṃśo hi vicakṣaṇaiḥ

Translation

さもなくば、罪の意図が起こり、あるいはまことに破滅が必ず後に続く。ゆえに、商いと利を生む取引においては、賢明なる者は正当な分として六分の一を差し出し、財がダルマにかなって保たれ、没落の因とならぬようにすべきである。

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विकल्पार्थ अव्यय (or/alternatively)

• पाप-बुद्धिः: sinful intent
• पाप-बुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘sinful intention’

• स्यात्: may be / would be
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/सम्भावना), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• क्षयम्: loss/decline
• क्षयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थ निपात (or)

• सत्यम्: truly
• सत्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here adverbial-accusative sense ‘truly’

• एष्यति: will come/ensue
• एष्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वृद्धि-वाणिज्यके: in usury/interest trade
• वृद्धि-वाणिज्यके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + वाणिज्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘in interest-trade/usury business’

• देयः: to be given
• देयः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Pradhāna (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देय (कृदन्त; दा धातु, यत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय—‘to be given/payable’

• षड्-अंशः: one-sixth portion
• षड्-अंशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one-sixth share’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; कारण/निश्चयार्थ

• विचक्षणैः: by the wise
• विचक्षणैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण/कर्तृ-सम्बन्ध—‘by the wise’

Speaker

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

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that wealth must be governed by dharma; otherwise it breeds pāpa-buddhi (sinful intention) and leads to kṣaya (downfall). Giving a rightful share purifies gain and supports a life oriented toward Shiva and liberation.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is not only ritual but also ethical alignment. Offering a rightful portion from one’s earnings mirrors making offerings to Saguna Shiva—transforming profit into a dharmic, devotional act rather than binding karma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is regular dāna (charitable giving) from one’s profits—ideally offered in Shiva-related worship or to dharmic causes—while maintaining inner vigilance so that greed does not become a bondage (pāśa).