Shloka 14

चाण्डालीसद्गतिवर्णनम् (Cāṇḍālī-sadgati-varṇanam) — “Account of the Cāṇḍālī’s Attainment of a Good Destiny”

Devanagari script

अविमृश्य मदावेशान्मेषबुद्याऽऽमिष प्रिया । एकं जघान गोवत्सं क्रोशंतमतिदुर्भगा

Transliteration

avimṛśya madāveśānmeṣabudyā''miṣa priyā | ekaṃ jaghāna govatsaṃ krośaṃtamatidurbhagā

Translation

Vom Rausch überwältigt und ohne Besinnung handelnd, hielt jene überaus unglückliche Frau—die dem Fleischgenuss zugetan war—es für einen Widder und erschlug ein einziges Kalb, während es klagend schrie.

Word by Word

• अविमृश्य: without reflecting
• अविमृश्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + मृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): ‘without considering’

• मदावेशात्: from intoxication/possessed by drunkenness
• मदावेशात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद + आवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मदस्य आवेशः); पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th case), एकवचन

• मेषबुद्ध्या: with the notion (that it was) a ram
• मेषबुद्ध्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेष + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मेषस्य बुद्धिः/मेष-विषया बुद्धिः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• आमिषप्रिया: she who is fond of meat
• आमिषप्रिया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आमिष + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आमिषस्य प्रिया); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘गोवत्सम्’)

• जघान: killed/struck down
• जघान: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गोवत्सम्: a calf
• गोवत्सम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (गोः वत्सः = calf of a cow); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• क्रोशन्तम्: crying out
• क्रोशन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रुश् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘गोवत्सम्’)

• अतिदुर्भगा: most unfortunate/wretched
• अतिदुर्भगा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + दुर्भगा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying the woman)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights how tamas (delusion) and mada (intoxication/pride) drive a person into adharmic action, creating heavy karma and deeper pasha (bondage) that obstructs Shiva-oriented purification and liberation.

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

Kotirudrasaṃhitā frames pilgrimage and devotion as means of cleansing grave sins; this verse sets the ethical backdrop—harm born of delusion requires repentance, restraint, and turning to Saguna Shiva (Linga worship) for inner transformation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to abandon intoxication and cruelty, adopt japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a sattvic vow (ahimsa), and seek purification through Shiva-devotion such as Linga-abhiṣeka and sincere prāyaścitta.