Shloka 10

Devanagari script

जिह्वाकामोपभोगार्थं यस्यारंभः सुकर्मसु । मूलेनख्यापको नित्यं वेदज्ञानादिकं च यत्

Transliteration

jihvākāmopabhogārthaṃ yasyāraṃbhaḥ sukarmasu | mūlenakhyāpako nityaṃ vedajñānādikaṃ ca yat

Translation

若有人连行善业也只是为满足舌根之欲、贪求口腹之享，而又常从根本处宣扬：“我具吠陀之知等”，此人实为欲望与自我炫示所驱，并非出于虔敬。

Word by Word

• jihvā-kāma-upabhoga-artham: for the sake of enjoyment of the tongue’s desire
• jihvā-kāma-upabhoga-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jihvā (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + upabhoga (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-सम्बन्धार्थे: ‘jihvāyāḥ kāmasya upabhogasya artham’), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative Singular); प्रयोजन (purpose)

• yasya: whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (Genitive Singular)

• ārambhaḥ: undertaking, initiation
• ārambhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ā+rambh (धातु) → ārambha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative Singular)

• su-karmasu: in good deeds
• su-karmasu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘सु कर्माणि’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी बहुवचन (Neuter, Locative Plural)

• mūlena: by the root, fundamentally
• mūlena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (Neuter, Instrumental Singular)

• khyāpakaḥ: one who makes known, proclaimer
• khyāpakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khyā (धातु) → khyāpaka (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक, ण्वुल्)
• Form: कृदन्त (agent noun, ण्वुल्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative Singular)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb), अव्यय

• veda-jñāna-ādikam: the Veda, knowledge, and the like
• veda-jñāna-ādikam: Karma (कर्म) / Padārtha (पदार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + ādika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (समाहार: ‘vedaṃ ca jñānaṃ ca ādi ca’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• yat: which, that which
• yat: Vishaya (विषय) / Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing Umā/Parvati in the Umāsaṃhitā’s philosophical-ethical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-legend; it is a diagnostic of inner motive: even sukarman becomes bondage when initiated for jihvā-sukha and paired with self-advertisement of learning.

Significance: Teaches pilgrims and householders that merit (puṇya) without humility and devotion remains within saṃsāra; true fruit is Śiva’s anugraha, not social prestige.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It warns that even ‘good deeds’ lose their sanctity when motivated by sensory craving and egoic self-advertisement; Shaiva Siddhanta emphasizes inner purification (antaḥśuddhi) and sincere bhakti over display.

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship is meant to dissolve ego and desire; this verse critiques performing worship or charity as a façade while remaining bound by taste, pride, and the need to be seen as learned.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice restraint of speech and taste (mitāhāra, mauna), offer food to Shiva with humility, and repeat the Panchakshara mantra ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’ as a means to purify motive rather than to gain reputation.