Shloka 40
धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्
Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct
सदोपवासी नियत: स्वाध्यायनिरत: शुचि: । बहिष्कान्तरिते नित्यं शयानो5ग्निगृहे सदा
sadopavāsī niyataḥ svādhyāya-nirataḥ śuciḥ | bahiṣkāntarite nityaṁ śayāno ’gni-gṛhe sadā ||
सदोपवासी नियतः स्वाध्यायनिरतः शुचिः । बहिष्कान्तरिते नित्यं शयानोऽग्निगृहे सदा ॥
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The core teaching is disciplined living: regular fasting, regulated conduct, devotion to svādhyāya (sacred study), and maintaining purity—supported by a simple, austere routine centered on the sacred fire.
Śiva (Maheśvara) is instructing about an ideal regimen of a dharmic practitioner/ascetic, describing daily practices—fasting, study, purity, and sleeping in the fire-sanctuary—as marks of steady religious observance.