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 ||
Śrī Maheshvara bersabda: “Wahai Dewi, yang mengetahui hakikat dharma dan artha, yang sentiasa teguh dalam kebenaran dan bersuka dalam pengendalian diri—dengarlah sekarang pertanyaan ini, yang diajukan demi kesejahteraan semua makhluk, pertanyaan yang menambah kebijaksanaan.”
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.