Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

भृशं चैव प्रवक्ष्यामि युद्धधर्मं सनातनम् । यादृशाय प्रहर्तव्यं यादृशं परिवर्जयेत्

Transliteration

bhṛśaṃ caiva pravakṣyāmi yuddhadharmaṃ sanātanam | yādṛśāya prahartavyaṃ yādṛśaṃ parivarjayet

Translation

Ngayon ay ipahahayag ko nang ganap ang walang-hanggang dharma ng matuwid na pakikidigma—kung kanino dapat tumama, at kung kanino dapat umiwas na manakit.

Word by Word

• भृशम्: fully/greatly
• भृशम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण — Adverb (greatly/fully)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक — Emphatic particle

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन — Simple future, Parasmaipada, 1st person, Singular

• युद्ध-धर्मम्: the duty/law of war
• युद्ध-धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; तत्पुरुष (युद्धस्य धर्मः)

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular (qualifying युद्धधर्मम्)

• यादृशाय: to what kind (of person)
• यादृशाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन — Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular (relative adjective: ‘to/for what kind’)

• प्रहर्तव्यम्: should be attacked/struck
• प्रहर्तव्यम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हृ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/passive necessity), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Gerundive: ‘to be struck/should be struck’

• यादृशम्: what kind (one)
• यादृशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular (object of parivarjayet: ‘what kind (one)’)

• परिवर्जयेत्: should avoid
• परिवर्जयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-वृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (आज्ञा/विधान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Optative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching dharma within Umāsaṃhitā’s philosophical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames action (including conflict) under dharma and discernment—teaching that even force must be governed by eternal moral law, aligning the soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati) through restraint and right intention.

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

Saguna Shiva is portrayed as the divine teacher of dharma: devotion to the Linga is not only ritual but also ethical transformation—learning when to act and when to refrain, so one’s karma becomes purified and Shiva-oriented.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) before decisive action, cultivating inner stillness and viveka (discernment) so that one avoids harmful, adharmic impulses.