Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

शूद्रकर्म यथोद्दिष्टं शूद्रो भूत्वा समाचरेत् । यथावत्परिचर्य्यां तु त्रिषु वर्णेषु नित्यदा

Transliteration

śūdrakarma yathoddiṣṭaṃ śūdro bhūtvā samācaret | yathāvatparicaryyāṃ tu triṣu varṇeṣu nityadā

Translation

ಶೂದ್ರಸ್ಥಿತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇದ್ದು ಶೂದ್ರನಿಗೆ ವಿಧಿಸಿದ ಕರ್ಮಗಳನ್ನು ಯಥಾವಿಧಿಯಾಗಿ ಆಚರಿಸಬೇಕು; ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಮೂರು ಉನ್ನತ ವರ್ಣಗಳಿಗೆ ವಿಧಿಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿ ನಿತ್ಯ ಸೇವೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು.

Word by Word

• शूद्र-कर्म: Śūdra-duty
• शूद्र-कर्म: कर्म (Karma/कर्मन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd) एकवचन (Sg); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: शूद्रस्य कर्म (duty/work of a Śūdra)

• यथा: as
• यथा: प्रकार (Manner adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'as/according to')

• उद्दिष्टम्: prescribed
• उद्दिष्टम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Sg) — 'prescribed/indicated'

• शूद्रः: a Śūdra
• शूद्रः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा) एकवचन (Sg)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/क्त्वा), 'having become'

• समाचरेत्: should practice/perform
• समाचरेत्: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Sg)

• यथावत्: properly
• यथावत्: प्रकार (Manner adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'properly, duly')

• परिचर्याम्: service/attendance
• परिचर्याम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्मन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिचर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (F), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचन (Sg)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ (but/indeed)

• त्रिषु: in three
• त्रिषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M) (वर्णेषु इति), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी) बहुवचन (Pl) — संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• वर्णेषु: among the varṇas
• वर्णेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी) बहुवचन (Pl)

• नित्यदा: always
• नित्यदा: कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'always')

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana discourse to the sages at Naimisharanya, conveying Uma-samhita teachings)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse frames spiritual progress in terms of disciplined dharma and humility: by faithfully performing one’s prescribed duties and cultivating service (paricaryā), the mind becomes purified and fit for devotion to Pati (Lord Shiva), who grants liberation.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is upheld as a universal means of grace, but it is strengthened by inner purity and right conduct. Here, regular service and proper behavior are presented as supportive disciplines that steady the devotee for Saguna Shiva worship and receptivity to Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practice implied is nitya-sevā (daily service) performed with rule-bound propriety and humility; as a Shaiva takeaway, one may pair such service with daily Linga-pūjā and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as mind-purifying discipline.