Shloka 37

Śivakṣetra–Tīrtha–Māhātmya

The Salvific Function of Shiva’s Sacred Domains

Devanagari script

तत्कालं जीवनार्थश्चेत्पुण्येन क्षयमेष्यति । पुण्यमैश्वर्यदं प्राहुः कायिकं वाचिकं तथा

Transliteration

tatkālaṃ jīvanārthaścetpuṇyena kṣayameṣyati | puṇyamaiśvaryadaṃ prāhuḥ kāyikaṃ vācikaṃ tathā

Translation

Nếu chỉ cầu kế sinh nhai cho khoảnh khắc trước mắt, đời ấy sẽ sớm cạn kiệt bởi (chỉ) phước đức. Bậc hiền trí nói rằng phước thật sự ban thịnh vượng—dù được tạo bởi thân hay bởi lời nói.

Word by Word

• तत्कालम्: at that time / immediately
• तत्कालम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत् + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverbial accusative sense)

• जीवनार्थः: purpose of living / livelihood
• जीवनार्थः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवन + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जीवनस्य अर्थः)

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक-निपात (conditional particle)

• पुण्येन: by merit
• पुण्येन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• क्षयम्: destruction / diminution
• क्षयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• एष्यति: will go / will reach (i.e., will come to)
• एष्यति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ऐश्वर्यदम्: giving prosperity
• ऐश्वर्यदम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐश्वर्य + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (ऐश्वर्यं ददाति इति)

• प्राहुः: they have said / they say
• प्राहुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• कायिकम्: bodily
• कायिकम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कायिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (पुण्यस्य)

• वाचिकम्: verbal
• वाचिकम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाचिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (पुण्यस्य)

• तथा: also / likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपसंहारार्थक (also/likewise)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

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.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

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.

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

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.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

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.