Shloka 39

Devanagari script

पुण्यवृक्षक्षयात्तद्वद् गां पतन्ति दिवौकसः दुःखाभिलाषनिष्ठानां दुःखभोगादिसंपदाम्

Transliteration

puṇyavṛkṣakṣayāttadvad gāṃ patanti divaukasaḥ duḥkhābhilāṣaniṣṭhānāṃ duḥkhabhogādisaṃpadām

Translation

ពេល “ដើមឈើនៃបុណ្យ” ត្រូវបានប្រើអស់ សូម្បីតែអ្នកស្ថិតនៅសួគ៌ក៏ធ្លាក់ចុះមកផែនដីដូចគ្នា។ ចំពោះអ្នកដែលចិត្តជាប់លាប់ក្នុងការចង់បាន និងជ្រើសរើសទុក្ខ “សម្បត្តិ” របស់ពួកគេគ្រាន់តែជាបទពិសោធន៍នៃការរីករាយទុក្ខ និងផលវិបាករបស់វាប៉ុណ្ណោះ។

Word by Word

• puṇya: merit/virtue

• vṛkṣa: tree (metaphor for accumulated karmic stock)

• kṣayāt: from exhaustion/decay

• tadvat: likewise/in the same way

• gām: to the earth

• patanti: fall down

• divaukasaḥ: the inhabitants of heaven (devas/celestials)

• duḥkha: suffering

• abhilāṣa: craving/desire

• niṣṭhānām: of those firmly devoted/settled

• duḥkha-bhoga: experiencing/enjoying suffering

• ādi: and the like

• sampadām: of attainments/prosperities (here, ironic/illusory gains).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It warns that even svarga is temporary when puṇya is depleted; Linga-worship is valued because it can mature the pashu toward devotion and knowledge of Pati (Shiva), aiming beyond transient heavenly reward.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By implication, Shiva-tattva stands beyond the economy of puṇya and pāpa; the fall of the devas highlights that only refuge in Pati—who is not exhausted like karmic merit—leads to lasting freedom from pasha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Vairāgya and Pāśupata-oriented discipline are implied: perform Shiva-puja and sadhana not for svarga (reward) but to cut pasha (bondage) and stabilize the pashu in devotion and insight.