Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29

त्रिपुरदीक्षाविधानम् — Tripura Dīkṣā: Prescriptive Procedure

Chapter on the Ordinance of Initiation

Devanagari script

मलिनान्येव वासांसि धारयंतो ह्यभाषिणः । धर्मो लाभः परं तत्त्वं वदंतस्त्वतिहर्षतः

Transliteration

malinānyeva vāsāṃsi dhārayaṃto hyabhāṣiṇaḥ | dharmo lābhaḥ paraṃ tattvaṃ vadaṃtastvatiharṣataḥ

Translation

เขาสวมแต่ผ้าหมองมัวและพูดน้อย ด้วยความปีติยิ่งจึงประกาศว่า ‘ธรรมเท่านั้นคือกำไรแท้; นั่นแลคือสัจตัตตวะอันสูงสุด’

Word by Word

• malināni: dirty/soiled
• malināni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: malina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• eva: only/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• vāsāṃsi: garments
• vāsāṃsi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• dhārayantaḥ: wearing/holding
• dhārayantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle) ‘धारयन्त्’, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक (for/indeed)

• abhāṣiṇaḥ: silent/non-speaking
• abhāṣiṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-bhāṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-समास/उपसर्गयुक्त विशेषण ‘अभाषिन्’ (non-speaking); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• dharmaḥ: dharma
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• lābhaḥ: gain
• lābhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समानााधिकरण (predicate noun)

• param: supreme
• param: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• tattvam: truth/principle
• tattvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• vadantaḥ: saying
• vadantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle) ‘वदन्त्’, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• ati-harṣataḥ: out of great joy
• ati-harṣataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ati (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + harṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव समास; ‘अतिहर्ष’ (excessive joy) + तसिल्/तस्-प्रत्यय (ablatival adverb) = ‘from/with excessive joy’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: धर्मो लाभः परं तत्त्वम्

Type: stotra

FAQs

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

It praises renunciation and inner discipline: true “profit” is dharma aligned with the supreme tattva, which in Shaiva Siddhanta culminates in turning the soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati) and liberation from bonds (pāśa).

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

By declaring dharma as the highest gain, it frames Linga/Saguna Shiva worship as a dharmic means—not mere ritual for worldly rewards—leading the devotee toward right conduct, purification, and realization of the supreme principle indicated by the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A spirit of austerity and restraint is implied: simplify living, reduce idle speech, and practice steady dharmic worship—such as daily japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a disciplined, renunciant mindset.