Shloka 31

Devanagari script

शब्दब्रह्मत्विदं प्राप्य ये केचिदन्यकांक्षिणः । घ्नंति ते मुष्टिनाकाशं कामयंते क्षुधां तृषाम्

Transliteration

śabdabrahmatvidaṃ prāpya ye kecidanyakāṃkṣiṇaḥ | ghnaṃti te muṣṭinākāśaṃ kāmayaṃte kṣudhāṃ tṛṣām

Translation

এই শব্দব্রহ্ম-অবস্থা লাভ করেও যারা অন্য কিছুর আকাঙ্ক্ষী, তারা যেন মুষ্টি দিয়ে শূন্য আকাশে আঘাত করে; শেষে ক্ষুধা-তৃষ্ণাই কামনা করে।

Word by Word

• शब्दब्रह्मत्व: the state of Śabda-brahman
• शब्दब्रह्मत्व: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्दब्रह्म + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (genitive/determinative: ‘state of Śabda-brahman’), द्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म; apposition to शब्दब्रह्मत्व)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• प्राप्य: having attained
• प्राप्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल; gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता; in apposition to ये)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (निपात)
• Form: प्रथमा बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; अनिश्चितवाचक सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• अन्यकाङ्क्षिणः: desiring something else
• अन्यकाङ्क्षिणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य + काङ्क्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (object-determinative: ‘desiring another’), प्रथमा बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• घ्नन्ति: strike, hit
• घ्नन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• मुष्टिना: with the fist
• मुष्टिना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• आकाशम्: the sky, empty space
• आकाशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• कामयन्ते: desire, long for
• कामयन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कम्/काम् (धातु: कामय्)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद

• क्षुधाम्: hunger
• क्षुधाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• तृषाम्: thirst
• तृषाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Umā/Parvati in the Umāsaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

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 teaches that once one has access to Śabda-Brahman—divine revelation and mantra pointing to Śiva—continuing to chase ‘other’ goals is futile and only increases inner lack; true fulfillment comes from aligning desire toward Pati (Śiva) and liberation.

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

The Linga and Saguna Śiva worship give the mind a stable, sacred focus. This verse warns that if worship is mixed with competing cravings, it becomes like “punching the sky”; single-pointed devotion and surrender to Śiva are what convert worship into grace-bearing practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate ekāgratā through japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and daily Linga-pūjā with a spirit of renunciation; the practical takeaway is to reduce ‘other desires’ while repeating the mantra as the primary inner discipline.