Shloka 26

Gautama–Ahalyā-Upākhyāna: Durbhikṣa, Tapas, and Varuṇa’s Boon (गौतमाहल्योपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

दयालुरमदस्पर्श उपकारी जितेन्द्रियः । एतैश्च पुण्यस्तम्भैस्तु चतुर्भिर्धार्य्यते मही

Transliteration

dayāluramadasparśa upakārī jitendriyaḥ | etaiśca puṇyastambhaistu caturbhirdhāryyate mahī

Translation

Từ bi, không bị chạm đến bởi men say và kiêu mạn, hay giúp người, và tự chế ngự—chính nhờ bốn trụ cột công đức ấy mà trái đất được nâng đỡ vững bền.

Word by Word

• dayāluḥ: compassionate
• dayāluḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject, implied ‘saḥ’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dayālu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective (one who is compassionate)

• amada-sparśaḥ: untouched by pride/intoxication
• amada-sparśaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + mada (प्रातिपदिक) + sparśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समास: तत्पुरुष (नञ्-तत्पुरुष) = ‘मदस्य अभावः’ + ‘स्पर्शः’ → ‘untouched by intoxication/pride’

• upakārī: helpful
• upakārī: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upakārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agent-noun adjective (उपकारिन्)

• jita-indriyaḥ: self-controlled (having conquered the senses)
• jita-indriyaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita (कृदन्त; √ji ‘to conquer’) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समास: तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रियाणि जितानि येन/यस्य) used adjectivally; ‘jita’ = past passive participle (क्त)

• etaiḥ: by these
• etaiḥ: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; demonstrative pronoun

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• puṇya-stambhaiḥ: by the virtuous pillars
• puṇya-stambhaiḥ: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + stambha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; समास: कर्मधारय (‘puṇyāḥ stambhāḥ’ = ‘virtuous pillars’)

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adversative/emphatic particle (तु)

• caturbhiḥ: by four
• caturbhiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; numeral adjective qualifying ‘stambhaiḥ’

• dhāryate: is sustained/held
• dhāryate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahī: the earth
• mahī: Karma (कर्म/subject of passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Tryambakeśvara

Sthala Purana: As part of the Tryambakeśvara-māhātmya’s ethical teaching, the verse declares four ‘puṇya-stambhas’ (pillars of merit) that uphold the earth: compassion, freedom from pride/intoxication, helpfulness, and sense-control—virtues that make a pilgrim fit for Śiva’s anugraha.

Significance: Interprets pilgrimage not merely as travel but as inner discipline (jitendriyatā) and social virtue (dayā, upakāra), aligning the devotee with the sustaining order of the kṣetra.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that spiritual life is grounded in four Shaiva-aligned virtues—compassion, freedom from pride/intoxication, service, and sense-mastery—without which devotion becomes merely external.

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

Linga-worship is not only ritual; it must be supported by inner purity. These virtues stabilize the devotee’s mind so Saguna Shiva worship becomes a means to grace (anugraha) and liberation rather than a display of ego.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice sense-restraint with daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offer seva to devotees and beings, and cultivate humility—supporting external worship such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa with inner discipline.