Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

क्रव्यादैर्दतिभिश्चैव हतस्य गतिरुत्तमा । द्विजगोस्वामिनामर्थे भवेद्विपुलदाक्षया

Transliteration

kravyādairdatibhiścaiva hatasya gatiruttamā | dvijagosvāmināmarthe bhavedvipuladākṣayā

Translation

କ୍ରବ୍ୟାଦ କିମ୍ବା ହାତୀ ଦ୍ୱାରା ହତ ହେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ତାହାର ଗତି ଉତ୍ତମ ହୁଏ; ଦ୍ୱିଜ ଓ ଗୋସ୍ୱାମୀମାନଙ୍କ ହିତାର୍ଥେ କରା କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ବିପୁଳ ଦାକ୍ଷିଣା-ଫଳଦାୟକ ମହାପୁଣ୍ୟ ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

• क्रव्यादैः: by flesh-eaters (carnivores)
• क्रव्यादैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument/Agentive means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रव्याद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• दतिभिः: by cutters/biters (predators)
• दतिभिः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument/Agentive means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• हतस्य: of the slain (person)
• हतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle) ‘हत’ + षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual)

• गतिः: the destiny, course
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उत्तमा: excellent, highest
• उत्तमा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘गति’)

• द्विज-गो-स्वामिनाम्: of Brahmins, cows, and masters (owners)
• द्विज-गो-स्वामिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + गो (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अर्थे: for the sake of, in the cause of
• अर्थे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनवाचक (in the matter/purpose)

• भवेत्: would be, should become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विपुल-दाक्षया: by abundant skill/ability
• विपुल-दाक्षया: Karaṇa (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपुल (प्रातिपदिक) + दाक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins
• Cow-protectors (Gosvamin)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that dharmic intention—acting for the welfare of Brahmins and the protection of cows—purifies even extreme suffering or death, turning it into a cause for an elevated posthumous state and merit aligned with Shaiva dharma.

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

In the Shiva Purana, Saguna Shiva worship is inseparable from dharma: offerings, service, and protection of sacred institutions (Brahmins, cows) are treated as extensions of Shiva-bhakti, producing merit supportive of grace (anugraha) and higher gati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to dāna and dākṣiṇā—supporting Brahmins and cow-protection as a devotional discipline—often performed alongside Shiva-pūjā (e.g., on Mahāśivarātri) to stabilize merit and cultivate sattva for spiritual ascent.