Shloka 57

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

अधर्मो हिंसिकारूपो धर्मस्तु सुखरूपकः । अधर्माद्दुःखमाप्नोति धर्माद्वै सुखमेधते

Transliteration

adharmo hiṃsikārūpo dharmastu sukharūpakaḥ | adharmādduḥkhamāpnoti dharmādvai sukhamedhate

Translation

అధర్మము హింసా-క్రూరత స్వరూపము; ధర్మము సుఖ-మంగళ స్వరూపము. అధర్మమునుండి నిశ్చయంగా దుఃఖం పొందుతాడు; ధర్మమువలన నిజంగా సుఖం వృద్ధి చెందుతుంది।

Word by Word

• adharmaḥ: unrighteousness; adharma
• adharmaḥ: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• hiṃsikā-rūpaḥ: having the form of violence
• hiṃsikā-rūpaḥ: Visheshana/Predicate adjective (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hiṃsikā (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): हिंसिकायाः रूपः; used predicatively of adharmaḥ

• dharmaḥ: righteousness; dharma
• dharmaḥ: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tu: but
• tu: Connector (विरोध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adversative particle (विरोधार्थक निपात)

• sukha-rūpakaḥ: having the form of happiness
• sukha-rūpakaḥ: Visheshana/Predicate adjective (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष-समास: सुखरूपकः = सुखस्वरूपः; predicative of dharmaḥ

• adharmāt: from adharma; due to unrighteousness
• adharmāt: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• duḥkham: sorrow
• duḥkham: Karma/Object (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āpnoti: attains
• āpnoti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āp (आप्)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/वर्तमान), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• dharmāt: from dharma; due to righteousness
• dharmāt: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• vai: indeed
• vai: Emphasis (निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक निपात)

• sukham: happiness
• sukham: Karma/Object (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• edhate: flourishes; increases
• edhate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √edh (एध्)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/वर्तमान), Ātmanepada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva Purāṇa teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not site-specific; defines adharma as hiṃsā and dharma as sukha, mapping moral quality to experiential fruit.

Significance: Supports ahiṃsā and dharmic living as preparatory purification (caryā) for Śiva-bhakti and eventual grace.

FAQs

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

It states a Shaiva ethical law of karma: harm-born conduct (adharma) ripens as suffering, while dharma—aligned with Śiva’s order and compassion—ripens as increasing well-being and inner peace.

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

Linga-worship is not merely ritual; it requires dharmic living. Approaching Saguna Śiva through the Linga with ahimsa and right conduct purifies the devotee, making worship fruitful rather than merely external.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt ahimsa as a daily vrata, and support it with Śiva-japa (especially the pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a discipline that restrains harmful impulses and strengthens dharmic intention.