Shloka 3

Strī-svabhāva-kathanam: Nārada–Pañcacūḍā-saṃvāda

Discourse on Dispassion via the Nārada–Pañcacūḍā Dialogue

Devanagari script

स्त्रियो मूलं हि दोषाणां लघुचित्ताः सदा मुने । तदासक्तिर्न कर्तव्या मोक्षेप्सुभिरतन्द्रितैः

Transliteration

striyo mūlaṃ hi doṣāṇāṃ laghucittāḥ sadā mune | tadāsaktirna kartavyā mokṣepsubhiratandritaiḥ

Translation

يا أيها الحكيم، تُعَدّ النساءُ أصلَ كثيرٍ من العيوب، لخِفّة عقولهنّ وتقلبها دائماً؛ لذلك فطالبو الموكشا اليقظون لا ينبغي لهم أن يسقطوا في التعلّق بهنّ.

Word by Word

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• मूलम्: root/cause
• मूलम्: Pradhāna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• दोषाणाम्: of faults
• दोषाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• लघु-चित्ताः: fickle-minded/light-minded
• लघु-चित्ताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लघु (प्रातिपदिक) + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण to स्त्रियः; समासः—कर्मधारय (लघुं चित्तं येषाम्/यासाम्)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• तत्-आसक्तिः: attachment to that (to them)
• तत्-आसक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + आसक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (तासु/तत्-विषये आसक्तिः)

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• कर्तव्या: to be done/should be made
• कर्तव्या: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/तव्यत् = ought to be done); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण to आसक्तिः (i.e., ‘should not be done’)

• मोक्ष-ईप्सुभिः: by those desiring liberation
• मोक्ष-ईप्सुभिः: Karta/Agent (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + ईप्सु (आप्/ईप्स् धातु, उणादि/कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मोक्षम् ईप्सवः)

• अतन्द्रितैः: by the vigilant/untiring
• अतन्द्रितैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतन्द्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण to मोक्षईप्सुभिः

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing a sage/ascetic within the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns the moksha-seeker against pasha—bonding attachment that agitates the mind—and stresses vigilant vairāgya so the jīva may turn toward Pati (Shiva) rather than sensory entanglement.

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

Linga/Saguna-Shiva worship requires one-pointedness (ekāgratā). The verse frames attachment as a distraction that weakens inner purity, making devotion and meditative absorption on Shiva’s form and presence unstable.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is disciplined restraint and steady japa/meditation—especially Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—supported by Shaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa to maintain vigilance and detachment.