Shloka 37
तत्कालं जीवनार्थश्चेत्पुण्येन क्षयमेष्यति । पुण्यमैश्वर्यदं प्राहुः कायिकं वाचिकं तथा
tatkālaṃ jīvanārthaścetpuṇyena kṣayameṣyati | puṇyamaiśvaryadaṃ prāhuḥ kāyikaṃ vācikaṃ tathā
جو صرف اسی لمحے کی روزی کے لیے کوشش کرتا ہے، اس کی زندگی محض پُنّیہ ہی سے گھٹ کر ختم ہو جاتی ہے۔ دانا کہتے ہیں کہ پُنّیہ ہی ऐश्वर्य (دولت و برکت) دینے والا ہے—چاہے وہ جسمانی عمل ہو یا کلامی۔
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Sthala Purana: General instruction on the economy of dharma: merit can yield aiśvarya (worldly prosperity) through bodily and verbal acts, yet a life aimed only at immediate livelihood remains perishable and ‘exhausted’—hinting that higher fruit requires Śiva-oriented intention.
Significance: Reorients pilgrims from short-term gains to enduring spiritual purpose; frames puṇya as supportive but not the final end without higher orientation and grace.
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that human life and stability are sustained by dharmic merit, and that virtue expressed through disciplined action and truthful, sacred speech becomes a support for higher Shaiva practice and eventual liberation.
Linga-worship is not only ritual but also ethical purification: bodily service (kāyika) such as puja, charity, and restraint, and verbal offerings (vācika) such as mantra-japa and praise. These forms of merit prepare the devotee for grace-centered devotion to Saguna Shiva.
Practice vācika punya through Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and stotra-recitation, and kāyika punya through daily Shiva-puja, charity, and disciplined conduct—especially on Mahashivratri.