Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

त्रिपुरमोहनम्

Tripuramohana — “The Delusion/Enchanting of Tripura”

Devanagari script

धर्मो जीवदयातुल्यो न क्वापि जगतीतले । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कार्या जीवदया नृभिः

Transliteration

dharmo jīvadayātulyo na kvāpi jagatītale | tasmātsarvaprayatnena kāryā jīvadayā nṛbhiḥ

Translation

在此世间，大地之上，没有任何法义能与对众生的慈悲相等。因此，人们应竭尽一切努力，修行对一切有情的仁爱与怜悯。

Word by Word

• धर्मः: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• जीवदया-तुल्यः: equal to compassion for living beings
• जीवदया-तुल्यः: Karta (कर्ता) के विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीवदया (प्रातिपदिक) + तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive Tatpurusha) अर्थः—‘जीवदयायाः तुल्यः’ (equal to compassion to living beings)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negative particle)

• क्वापि: anywhere
• क्वापि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘क्व’ (interrogative/locative adverb) + ‘अपि’ (particle) = अनिर्दिष्ट-स्थानवाचक (indefinite place adverb)

• जगती-तले: on the earth/world’s surface
• जगती-तले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत्/जगती (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘जगत्याः तले’ (on the surface of the world)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Reason marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगवत् निपात (indeclinable causal particle) अर्थः ‘अतः/तस्माद् हेतोः’ (therefore)

• सर्व-प्रयत्नेन: with all effort
• सर्व-प्रयत्नेन: Karana (करण/Instrument-means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय—‘सर्वः प्रयत्नः’ (all effort)

• कार्यā: should be done
• कार्यā: Karta (कर्ता) के विशेषण / विधेय (Predicate: should be done)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, भाव्य/कर्तव्य)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कृदन्त—‘कार्य’ (gerundive/कर्तव्यतार्थक, to be done)

• जीवदया: compassion to living beings
• जीवदया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक) + दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘जीवानां दया’ (compassion toward living beings)

• नृभिः: by men, by humans
• नृभिः: Kartr̥ (कर्ता/Agent; ‘by men’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares jīva-dayā (compassion to all beings) as the highest expression of dharma—an inner Shaiva discipline that softens ego, reduces karmic bondage (pāśa), and makes the heart fit for Shiva-bhakti and grace.

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

Linga worship is not merely ritual; it is meant to awaken Shiva-like qualities in the devotee. Showing compassion to living beings is a direct way of honoring Saguna Shiva present as the indwelling Lord in all creatures.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt ahimsa as a daily vrata alongside Shiva-upasana—offerings to the Linga with a compassionate mind, japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya), and restraint from harm in thought, word, and deed.