Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

अधर्मसेवनान्मूढस्तथैव परिवर्तते । जन्मान्तरसहस्राणि तमस्याविशते यतः

Transliteration

adharmasevanānmūḍhastathaiva parivartate | janmāntarasahasrāṇi tamasyāviśate yataḥ

Translation

ಅಧರ್ಮವನ್ನು ಆಚರಿಸುವುದರಿಂದ ಮೂಢನು ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಸಂಸಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ತಿರುಗುತ್ತಾನೆ; ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿಯೇ ಅವನು ಸಾವಿರಾರು ಜನ್ಮಗಳವರೆಗೆ ಅಜ್ಞಾನಾಂಧಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ।

Word by Word

• adharma-sevanāt: from practicing unrighteousness
• adharma-sevanāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adharma (प्रातिपदिक) + sevana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): ‘of adharma’ + ‘service/practice’; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन)

• mūḍhaḥ: the deluded person
• mūḍhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tathā: thus/so
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-निपात)

• parivartate: changes/turns (again and again)
• parivartate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• janma-antara-sahasrāṇi: for thousands of births
• janma-antara-sahasrāṇi: Kāla/Parimāṇa (काल/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain: ‘birth’ + ‘other/another’ → ‘other births’ + ‘thousands’; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन) (extent/duration)

• tamasi: in darkness
• tamasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• āviśate: enters
• āviśate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√viś (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• yataḥ: because/wherefrom
• yataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatas (अव्यय/सम्बन्ध-शब्द)
• Form: Causal/relative adverb (हेतुवाचक-अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

FAQs

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

It warns that habitual adharma strengthens tamas (spiritual darkness) and tightens pasha (bondage), causing long continuation in saṃsāra until one turns toward dharma and Shiva-oriented purification.

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

Linga-worship represents turning from tamas to Shiva (Pati) through disciplined devotion; abandoning adharma and taking refuge in Saguna Shiva stabilizes right conduct and gradually removes the bonds that keep the soul revolving in births.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with ethical restraint; support it with Shaiva purificatory observances such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as aids to reducing tamas and strengthening sāttvika conduct.