Shloka 51

Rudra-Śiva: Names, Two Natures, and the Logic of Epithets (रुद्रनाम-बहुरूपत्व-प्रकरणम्)

Devanagari script

सम्यग्दण्डे स्थितिर्धमो धर्मो वेदक्रतुर््रिया: । व्यवहारस्थितिर्धर्म: सत्यवाक्यरतिस्तथा

Transliteration

samyag-daṇḍe sthitir dharmo dharmo veda-kratur-kriyāḥ | vyavahāra-sthitir dharmaḥ satya-vākya-ratis tathā ||

Translation

Mahādeva bersabda: “Dharma ialah keteguhan dalam menegakkan hukuman dan disiplin yang adil. Dharma juga ialah pelaksanaan upacara Veda dan amalan korban suci. Dharma ialah kelakuan yang wajar dalam urusan dunia dan tatacara perundangan; demikian juga kegembiraan dalam berkata benar.”

Word by Word

• सम्यक्: properly, rightly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक्
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb)

• दण्डे: in punishment/discipline (in the rod of justice)
• दण्डे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• स्थितिः: steadfastness, establishment, proper standing
• स्थितिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मः: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वेद: the Veda
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (as first member in compound)

• क्रतु: sacrifice, ritual
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (as middle member in compound)

• क्रियाः: actions, rites, observances
• क्रियाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• व्यवहार: practice, conduct; legal procedure
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवहार
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (as first member in compound)

• स्थितिः: established order, settled state
• स्थितिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular (as second member in compound)

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सत्य: true
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular (as first member in compound)

• वाक्य: speech, statement
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular (as middle member in compound)

• रतिः: delight, devotion, fondness
• रतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: thus, likewise, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable)

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrīmaheśvara (Mahādeva/Śiva)
• Veda
• kratu (yajña/sacrifice)
• daṇḍa (punitive authority)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is presented as multi-dimensional: (1) the rightful maintenance of authority and punishment (daṇḍa) to uphold order, (2) the performance of Vedic sacrificial and ritual duties, (3) integrity in social and legal dealings (vyavahāra), and (4) a commitment to truthful speech.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused setting, Śrīmaheśvara speaks in a didactic mode, defining dharma not as a single act but as a framework that spans governance, ritual obligation, social/judicial conduct, and personal truthfulness.