Shloka 56

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

यादृशं पुण्यं पापं वा तादृशं फलमेव हि । द्र व्यदेहांगभेदेन न्यूनवृद्धिक्षयादिकम्

Transliteration

yādṛśaṃ puṇyaṃ pāpaṃ vā tādṛśaṃ phalameva hi | dra vyadehāṃgabhedena nyūnavṛddhikṣayādikam

Translation

Phước hay tội thế nào thì quả báo cũng đúng như thế. Quả thật, tùy theo sự khác biệt về tư lương (tài lực), thân thể và các chi phần, mà phát sinh những trạng thái như thiếu hụt, tăng trưởng, suy giảm và các điều tương tự—đều theo trật tự nghiệp báo công minh của Đức Śiva.

Word by Word

• yādṛśam: of whatever kind
• yādṛśam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yādṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) or Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; correlatives with tādṛśam; qualifying puṇyam/pāpam

• puṇyam: merit; virtue
• puṇyam: Karta/Topic (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; paired with pāpam

• pāpam: sin; demerit
• pāpam: Karta/Topic (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• vā: or
• vā: Connector (समुच्चय/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक निपात)

• tādṛśam: of that same kind
• tādṛśam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tādṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; correlating with yādṛśam; qualifying phalam

• phalam: result; fruit
• phalam: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• eva: indeed; only
• eva: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), emphatic particle (अवधारणार्थक निपात)

• hi: for; indeed
• hi: Connector (हेतु/निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), causal/emphatic particle (हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक निपात)

• dravya-deha-aṅga-bhedena: by the distinction of substance, body, and limbs
• dravya-deha-aṅga-bhedena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya (प्रातिपदिक) + deha (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास: द्रव्यस्य देहस्य अङ्गस्य भेदः (भेदेन)

• nyūna-vṛddhi-kṣaya-ādikam: deficiency, increase, loss, etc.
• nyūna-vṛddhi-kṣaya-ādikam: Karta/Predicate (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nyūna (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛddhi (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣaya (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; समाहार-द्वन्द्व: न्यूनं च वृद्धिः च क्षयः च (आदि-शब्देन अन्ये)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s doctrine to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a shrine narrative; it states karmic niyati: fruits correspond to puṇya/pāpa and manifest variably through dravya/deha/aṅga differences.

Significance: Encourages ethical vigilance and ritual purity by affirming Śiva’s just governance of karma and embodied outcomes.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Karmic order (niyati) operating through embodiment and material conditions.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It states the principle of karmic correspondence: merit and sin yield results of the same nature, shaping one’s embodied condition (strength, weakness, growth, decline). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, this reflects pāśa (bondage) operating under Pati (Śiva) as the righteous governor, urging the soul toward purification.

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

By showing that embodied suffering and limitation arise from karma, the verse implicitly points to Saguna Śiva (worshipped as the Liṅga) as the compassionate Lord who can burn impurities through devotion, mantra, and worship—helping the soul transcend karmic consequences and move toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to adopt purifying Shaiva disciplines—regular Liṅga-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and living dharmically—so that sinful impressions diminish and merit supports inner steadiness conducive to moksha.