Shloka 19

Arjuna–Gaṇa Saṃvāda: Bāṇādhikāra, Tāpasa-veṣa, and the Ethics of Tapas (अर्जुन-गणसंवादः)

Devanagari script

उपकारं परित्यज्य ह्यपकारं समीहसे । नैतद्युक्तं त्वयाद्यैव क्रियते त्यज चापलम्

Transliteration

upakāraṃ parityajya hyapakāraṃ samīhase | naitadyuktaṃ tvayādyaiva kriyate tyaja cāpalam

Translation

Bỏ điều thiện mà lại mưu cầu điều hại. Ngay hôm nay, ngươi làm vậy là chẳng phải lẽ—hãy lập tức dứt bỏ sự hấp tấp, nông nổi ấy.

Word by Word

• उपकारम्: benefit/help
• उपकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• परित्यज्य: having abandoned
• परित्यज्य: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having abandoned)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतुसूचक (particle: indeed/for)

• अपकारम्: harm/ill-turn
• अपकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समीहसे: you seek/attempt
• समीहसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√ईह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (you strive/seek)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (not)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (this)

• युक्तम्: proper
• युक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (proper/appropriate)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Kartr (कर्ता; passive-agent/कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental singular: by you)

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (today/now)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis: just/indeed)

• क्रियते: is done
• क्रियते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): ‘is done’

• त्यज: abandon!
• त्यज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative); मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• आपलम्: fickleness/impetuosity
• आपलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चापल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing/admonishing within the narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that turning from upakāra (benefit) to apakāra (harm) is adharma and increases bondage (pāśa). In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, compassion and self-restraint purify the pashu (individual soul) so it can receive Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

Linga-worship is not merely ritual; it is inner alignment with Shiva’s qualities—śānti (peace), dayā (compassion), and dharma. This verse emphasizes that devotion to Saguna Shiva must express itself as non-harm and steadiness, not impulsive wrongdoing.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is restraint (saṃyama): pause before action, renounce harmful intent, and stabilize the mind through japa of the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") to drop cāpalam (rashness) and return to dharmic conduct.