Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 1
The Teaching on Śiva-Dharma and the Supremacy of Food-Giving
within the Pitṛtīrtha–Yayāti Episode
मातलिरुवाच । अथ धर्माः शिवेनोक्ताः शिवधर्मागमोत्तमाः । ज्ञेया बहुविधास्ते च कर्मयोगप्रभेदतः
mātaliruvāca | atha dharmāḥ śivenoktāḥ śivadharmāgamottamāḥ | jñeyā bahuvidhāste ca karmayogaprabhedataḥ
मातलिरुवाच—अथ शिवेनोक्ताः शिवधर्मागमोत्तमाः धर्माः कर्मयोगप्रभेदतः बहुविधा इति ज्ञेयाः।
Mātali
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: celestial_realm
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शिवेनोक्ताः → शिवेन + उक्ताः. बहुविधास्ते → बहुविधाः + ते (visarga sandhi). कर्मयोगप्रभेदतः is a compound with तसिल् adverbial ending.
FAQs
Mātali is speaking, introducing Śiva’s teachings on dharma and indicating they have multiple forms based on divisions of karma-yoga.
It refers to an authoritative Śaiva scriptural/traditional body of teachings on dharma attributed to Śiva, described here as “excellent/supreme.”
Dharma is not one-size-fits-all; it can be applied in varied ways depending on one’s discipline and practice of action (karma-yoga), encouraging thoughtful alignment of duties with spiritual method.