Shloka 43
कालयुक्तधर्मविवेकः
Discerning Dharma in Accord with Time
क्षीणायु: केन भवति कर्मणा भुवि मानव: । विपाकं कर्मणां देव वक्तुमर्हस्थनिन्दित,अनिन्द्य महादेव! इस भूतलपर कौन-सा कर्म करनेसे मनुष्यकी आयु क्षीण हो जाती है? आप मुझसे कर्म-विपाकका वर्णन करें
kṣīṇāyuḥ kena bhavati karmaṇā bhuvi mānavaḥ | vipākaṃ karmaṇāṃ deva vaktum arhasi nindita-anindya mahādeva ||
“Do nghiệp hạnh nào mà con người trên cõi đất này trở nên yểu mệnh? Bạch Thần linh, xin hãy nói cho thiếp về sự chín muồi (quả báo) của các nghiệp—hỡi Mahādeva, Đấng vượt lên trên cả điều đáng chê và điều đáng khen.”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharmic inquiry into karmic causality: certain actions lead to diminished lifespan, and the speaker requests an explanation of how deeds ‘ripen’ into concrete results (vipāka). It emphasizes that ethical conduct is not merely social but causally consequential.
Maheshvara addresses Mahādeva with a question, asking which human actions on earth cause one to become short-lived, and requesting a description of the fruition of karma. The tone is that of a disciple-like inquiry directed to a supreme divine authority who transcends ordinary judgments of blame and praise.