Shloka 3

कालयुक्तधर्मविवेकः

Discerning Dharma in Accord with Time

Devanagari script

केन शीलेन वृत्तेन कर्मणा कीदृशेन वा । समाचारैर्गुणै: कैर्वा स्वर्ग यान्तीह मानवा:

Transliteration

kena śīlena vṛttena karmaṇā kīdṛśena vā | samācārair guṇaiḥ kair vā svargaṃ yāntīha mānavāḥ, prabho ||

Translation

“ପ୍ରଭୋ! କେଉଁ ଶୀଳ-ସ୍ୱଭାବରେ, କେଉଁ ବୃତ୍ତ-ବ୍ୟବହାରରେ, କେମିତି କର୍ମରେ, ଏବଂ କେଉଁ ସଦାଚାର ଓ ଗୁଣଦ୍ୱାରା ମନୁଷ୍ୟମାନେ ଏହି ଲୋକରେ ସ୍ୱର୍ଗ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ କରନ୍ତି?”

Word by Word

• केन: by what
• केन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• शीलेन: by character/nature
• शीलेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शील
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• वृत्तेन: by conduct/behavior
• वृत्तेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्त
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• कर्मणा: by action/deed
• कर्मणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• कीदृशेन: of what kind
• कीदृशेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कीदृश
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• समाचारैः: by good practices/observances
• समाचारैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समाचार
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• गुणैः: by virtues/qualities
• गुणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• कैः: by which
• कैः: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• यान्ति: go/attain
• Type: Verb
• Root: या
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• इह: here (in this world)
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• मानवाः: men/humans
• मानवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रभो: O lord/master
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī-Maheśvara (Śiva)
• Prabhu (the addressed Lord)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse sets up a dharmic inquiry: heavenly attainment is linked to a composite of inner character (śīla), outward conduct (vṛtta), intentional deeds (karma), and cultivated virtues and observances (guṇa, samācāra). It implies that destiny is shaped not by a single act but by an integrated ethical life.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śrī Maheśvara addresses the Lord with a formal question, asking for the criteria—qualities and behaviors—by which humans attain svarga. This functions as the opening of an instruction or discourse on righteous living and its results.