Shloka 1
Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya
Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification
ऋषय ऊचुः । सदाचारं श्रावयाशु येन लोकाञ्जयेद्बुधः । धर्माधर्ममयान्ब्रूहि स्वर्गनारकदांस्तथा
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | sadācāraṃ śrāvayāśu yena lokāñjayedbudhaḥ | dharmādharmamayānbrūhi svarganārakadāṃstathā
เหล่าฤๅษีกล่าวว่า “ขอท่านจงสอนสัทอาจาระโดยเร็ว ซึ่งทำให้บัณฑิตพิชิตโลกทั้งหลายได้ และขอจงอธิบายจำแนกกรรมที่เป็นธรรมะและอธรรมะ ซึ่งให้ผลเป็นสวรรค์และนรกตามลำดับ”
The sages (ṛṣis) of Naimiṣāraṇya
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: The sages’ inquiry into sadācāra and dharma/adharma frames Kāśī/Viśveśvara as the paradigmatic kṣetra where right conduct and right knowledge culminate in Śiva’s grace (anugraha) and liberation; the Viśveśvarasaṃhitā’s didactic setting is traditionally aligned with Viśvanātha’s salvific lordship over all lokas.
Significance: Hearing and practicing dharma in Śiva’s kṣetra is presented as world-conquering (loka-jaya) in the sense of mastering karmic destinations (svarga/naraka) and turning toward Śiva’s liberating grace.
FAQs
This verse frames the Shaiva path as disciplined living (sadācāra) guided by discernment between dharma and adharma, emphasizing that spiritual progress and worldly outcomes arise from rightly aligned action.
Linga worship in the Shiva Purana is not isolated ritualism; it is supported by sadācāra—purity, restraint, truthfulness, and devotion—so that external worship of Saguna Shiva becomes an inner transformation aligned with dharma.
The verse primarily requests ethical discipline, which traditionally supports Shaiva sādhanā such as daily Shiva-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and observances done with purity and self-control.