Shloka 38

Kṣetra–Kāla–Phala-kramaḥ

Hierarchy of Sacred Place, Time, and Ritual Fruit

Devanagari script

लक्ष्मीबुद्ध्या युवस्त्रीषु भोगकामैर्नरोत्तमैः । वृद्धासु पार्वतीबुद्ध्या देयमात्मार्थिभिर्जनैः

Transliteration

lakṣmībuddhyā yuvastrīṣu bhogakāmairnarottamaiḥ | vṛddhāsu pārvatībuddhyā deyamātmārthibhirjanaiḥ

Translation

جو بھोग کے خواہاں ہیں وہ شریشٹھ مرد نوجوان عورتوں میں لکشمی کا بھاؤ رکھیں۔ اور جو آتما کے کلیان کے طالب ہیں وہ بوڑھی عورتوں میں پاروتی کا بھاؤ رکھ کر دان و سیوا کریں۔

Word by Word

• lakṣmī-buddhyā: with the attitude (seeing as) Lakṣmī
• lakṣmī-buddhyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘with the notion of Lakṣmī’; manner-instrumental

• yuva-strīṣu: among young women
• yuva-strīṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuva (प्रातिपदिक) + strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘young women’; locus/adhikaraṇa

• bhoga-kāmaiḥ: by those desiring pleasures
• bhoga-kāmaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhoga (प्रातिपदिक) + kāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘desirous of enjoyment’; agent-instrumental

• nara-uttamaiḥ: by the best men
• nara-uttamaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; apposition to bhogakāmaiḥ

• vṛddhāsu: among old women
• vṛddhāsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛddhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Bahuvacana

• pārvatī-buddhyā: with the attitude (seeing as) Pārvatī
• pārvatī-buddhyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārvatī (प्रातिपदिक) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘with the notion of Pārvatī’; manner-instrumental

• deyam: should be given
• deyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु) + yat (यत्)
• Form: Gerundive (कृत्य/यत्), Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; impersonal predicate ‘should be given’

• ātma-arthibhiḥ: by those seeking the Self/their own good
• ātma-arthibhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + arthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘self-seeking/for one’s own spiritual good’; agent-instrumental

• janaiḥ: by people
• janaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; apposition to ātmārthibhiḥ

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Tryambakeśvara

Sthala Purana: Tryambaka is closely linked with Umā and household dharma; the verse frames desire (bhoga) and self-welfare (ātma-artha) through distinct devotional attitudes toward Śakti—Lakṣmī-bhāva and Pārvatī-bhāva—guiding the pashu from worldly aims toward higher good.

Significance: Reorients kāma toward dharma and elevates sevā into sādhana; encourages purity of gaze and intention in social relations.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Lakshmi

FAQs

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

It trains the devotee’s vision (bhāva) to recognize Śakti everywhere: honoring women as manifestations of divine power, and directing desire toward dharmic restraint and the higher aim of ātma-kalyāṇa (spiritual welfare).

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

Linga worship in the Shiva Purana is paired with reverence for Shiva’s Śakti; seeing Pārvatī in the venerable and practicing service/dāna becomes a living extension of Saguna devotion—offering respect to Shiva-Shakti through one’s conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice bhāva-śuddhi (purifying perception) by mentally offering respect as if to Devī, and perform dāna/sevā—especially to the elderly and vulnerable—as a devotional act aligned with Shaiva dharma.