Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

धर्मलाभोऽर्थलाभश्च यशोलाभस्तथैव च । यश्शूरो वांछते युद्धं विमृन्दन्परवाहिनीम्

Transliteration

dharmalābho'rthalābhaśca yaśolābhastathaiva ca | yaśśūro vāṃchate yuddhaṃ vimṛndanparavāhinīm

Translation

ಧರ್ಮಲಾಭ, ಅರ್ಥಲಾಭ ಮತ್ತು ಯಶೋಲಾಭವೂ ದೊರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ; ನಿಜ ಶೂರನು ಶತ್ರುಸೈನ್ಯವನ್ನು ಮರ್ಧಿಸಿ ಯುದ್ಧವನ್ನು ಬಯಸುತ್ತಾನೆ।

Word by Word

• dharma-lābhaḥ: gain of dharma
• dharma-lābhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + lābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (धर्मस्य लाभः)

• artha-lābhaḥ: gain of wealth
• artha-lābhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक) + lābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (अर्थस्य लाभः)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• yaśaḥ-lābhaḥ: gain of fame
• yaśaḥ-lābhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक) + lābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (यशसः लाभः)

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: 'thus/also')

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक (emphatic particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• śūraḥ: hero; brave man
• śūraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; yaḥ इत्यस्य विशेष्य/विशेषणभावः

• vāṃchate: desires
• vāṃchate: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vāṃch (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• yuddham: battle
• yuddham: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• vimṛndan: crushing; trampling
• vimṛndan: Karta (कर्ता/agent, participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-mṛd (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी-भावः

• para-vāhinīm: the enemy army
• para-vāhinīm: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + vāhinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (परस्य वाहिनी)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages of Naimisharanya, describing the warrior’s resolve in the Uma Samhita narrative context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

FAQs

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

The verse frames righteous action as yielding layered results—dharma (merit), artha (support for life), and yaśas (honor). From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, these are secondary fruits; the higher aim remains alignment with Pati (Shiva) through dharmic conduct that purifies the pashu (bound soul) and loosens pasha (bondage).

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

While the verse speaks of worldly and social outcomes of dharmic valor, Shiva Purana repeatedly redirects such energies toward Saguna Shiva—offering one’s duty and victories to Shiva (as inner surrender). Linga-worship transforms the motive from egoic fame to devotion, making action an offering rather than a binding pursuit.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform one’s duty with Shiva-arpana-buddhi (offering-attitude), supported by japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” before and after undertaking difficult tasks, so the action yields purification rather than attachment to fame.