Shloka 36

Munipraśna-varṇana

Description of the Sages’ Inquiry

Devanagari script

इति चिंताकुलं चित्तं जायते सततं हि नः । परोपकारसदृशो नास्ति धर्मो परः खलु

Transliteration

iti ciṃtākulaṃ cittaṃ jāyate satataṃ hi naḥ | paropakārasadṛśo nāsti dharmo paraḥ khalu

Translation

Maka demikianlah hati kami sentiasa gelisah oleh kebimbangan. Sesungguhnya, tiada dharma yang lebih tinggi daripada berbuat kebajikan kepada orang lain (paropakāra).

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/उद्धरणार्थक निपात

• चिन्ता-आकुलम्: agitated by worry
• चिन्ता-आकुलम्: विशेषण (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः चिन्तया आकुलम् (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• चित्तम्: mind
• चित्तम्: कर्ता (कर्तृकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• जायते: arises/is born
• जायते: क्रिया (आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदी

• सततम्: always
• सततम्: सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सततम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-नपुंसक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• नः: of us/our
• नः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th) बहुवचन/एकवचन-सम्भव; अत्र षष्ठी बहुवचन ‘our’ (enclitic)

• पर-उपकार-सदृशः: like helping others
• पर-उपकार-सदृशः: विशेषण (धर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + उपकार (प्रातिपदिक) + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः परस्य उपकारः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + उपकारसदृशः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/तत्पुरुष)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• अस्ति: exists/is
• अस्ति: क्रिया (आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• धर्मः: dharma/virtue
• धर्मः: कर्ता (कर्तृकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• परः: higher/supreme
• परः: विशेषण (धर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• खलु: indeed/truly
• खलु: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खलु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that inner unrest is soothed by dharma rooted in compassion—helping others is praised as the highest righteous path, aligning the heart toward Shiva’s grace.

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

Linga-worship is not only ritual but also character: devotion to Saguna Shiva is fulfilled when the devotee embodies Shiva-like compassion, making paropakara an extension of puja.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Pair daily Shiva-japa (e.g., Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with acts of charity/service; this integrates mantra with dharmic conduct, reducing anxiety and purifying the mind.