Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

आर्द्रहस्तपदो नित्यं क्षितिं धर्मेण पालयेत् । ऋतुकालाभिगामी च स्वभार्य्याधर्मतत्परः

Transliteration

ārdrahastapado nityaṃ kṣitiṃ dharmeṇa pālayet | ṛtukālābhigāmī ca svabhāryyādharmatatparaḥ

Translation

கைகள் கால்கள் எப்போதும் கருணைச் சேவைக்குத் தயாராக இருக்க, தர்மப்படி பூமியைப் பாதுகாத்து ஆள வேண்டும். உரிய காலத்திலேயே மனைவியிடம் அணுகி, தன் மனைவிக்கான நம்பிக்கைத்தர்மத்தில் உறுதியாக இருக்க வேண்டும்.

Word by Word

• आर्द्रहस्तपदः: having moist hands and feet
• आर्द्रहस्तपदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्द्र-हस्त-पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘आर्द्रौ हस्तपादौ यस्य सः’ (one whose hands and feet are moist/soft)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-Visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण; अव्ययप्रयोग (adverb: always)

• क्षितिम्: the earth/kingdom
• क्षितिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (accusative singular)

• धर्मेण: by righteousness/according to dharma
• धर्मेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• पालयेत्: should protect/govern
• पालयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘should protect/rule’

• ऋतुकालाभिगामी: one who approaches (his wife) in the proper season
• ऋतुकालाभिगामी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋतु-काल-अभिगामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘ऋतुकाले अभिगामी’ (one who approaches at the proper season)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• स्वभार्याधर्मतत्परः: devoted to the duty regarding his own wife
• स्वभार्याधर्मतत्परः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व-भार्या-धर्म-तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘स्वभार्यायाः धर्मे तत्परः’ (devoted to the duty toward one’s own wife)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Umāsaṃhitā’s dharma-teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It presents dharma as a Shaiva discipline: compassionate governance and restrained conduct purify the pashu (bound soul), making the mind fit for Shiva-bhakti and liberation under Pati (Lord Shiva).

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

Linga-worship is supported by ethical purity: a ruler or householder who protects others and practices fidelity offers a life of dharma as an inner oblation to Saguna Shiva, strengthening devotion and steadiness in worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse primarily teaches yama-like restraint (self-control and fidelity). As a Shaiva takeaway, one may pair such conduct with daily Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple Linga-upachara performed with a purified, disciplined mind.