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 ||
ಶ್ರೀಮಹೇಶ್ವರನು ಹೇಳಿದರು—“ದೇವಿ! ನೀನು ಧರ್ಮಾರ್ಥತತ್ತ್ವವನ್ನು ತಿಳಿದವಳು, ಧರ್ಮದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿತ್ಯ ಸ್ಥಿತಳಾಗಿರುವವಳು, ದಮದಲ್ಲಿ ರತಳಾಗಿರುವವಳು. ಈ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ಸರ್ವಪ್ರಾಣಿಗಳ ಹಿತಕ್ಕಾಗಿ, ಬುದ್ಧಿಯನ್ನು ವೃದ್ಧಿಸುವುದು—ಶ್ರವಣಮಾಡು.”
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.