Shloka 12

अध्याय 91: अरिष्ट-लक्षण, मृत्यु-संस्कार, पाशुपत-धारणा तथा ओङ्कार-उपासना

Devanagari script

शवगन्धि भवेद्गात्रं वसागन्धमथापि वा मृत्युर्ह्युपागतस्तस्य अर्धमासान्न जीवति

Transliteration

śavagandhi bhavedgātraṃ vasāgandhamathāpi vā mṛtyurhyupāgatastasya ardhamāsānna jīvati

Translation

إذا بدأ جسدُ الإنسان تفوح منه رائحةُ الجيفة—أو حتى رائحةُ الدهن الزنخ—فإن الموت قد دنا حقًّا؛ ولا يعيش ذلك المرء أكثر من نصف شهر.

Word by Word

• śava-gandhi: having the smell of a corpse

• bhavet: becomes/is

• gātram: the body/limbs

• vasā-gandham: the smell of fat/grease (rancid odor)

• atha api vā: or even

• mṛtyuḥ: death

• hi: indeed

• upāgataḥ: has approached/arrived

• tasya: for him/of that person

• ardha-māsāt: from half a month/within half a month

• na: not

• jīvati: lives

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating traditional arishta-lakshanas to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Mrityu

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It functions as an arishta-lakshana (fatal omen): recognizing life’s impermanence urges the pashu (bound soul) to take refuge in Pati—Lord Shiva—through Linga-upasana, japa, and surrender before time is exhausted.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By highlighting the certainty of death’s approach, it implicitly points to Shiva-tattva as the transcendent Pati beyond decay—He alone grants release from pasha (bondage) when the pashu turns toward Him.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse itself lists an omen rather than a practice; its practical takeaway is immediate Shaiva sadhana—Linga-puja, Rudra-japa, and Pashupata-oriented detachment (vairagya) to prepare for liberation as death nears.