Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

चांडाली सा पूर्वभरेऽभवद्ब्राह्मणकन्यका । सौमिनी नाम चन्द्रास्या सर्वलक्षणसंयुता

Transliteration

cāṃḍālī sā pūrvabhare'bhavadbrāhmaṇakanyakā | sauminī nāma candrāsyā sarvalakṣaṇasaṃyutā

Translation

Jene Frau, obgleich sie nun als Caṇḍālī bekannt war, war in einem früheren Leben eine Brahmanenmaid gewesen. Ihr Name war Sauminī; mondgleich war ihr Antlitz, und sie besaß alle glückverheißenden Merkmale.

Word by Word

• चाण्डाली: a caṇḍāla woman
• चाण्डाली: कर्ता (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाण्डाली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पूर्वभरे: in a former birth
• पूर्वभरे: अधिकरण (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व + भर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पूर्वे भरे = in a former birth/state)

• अभवत्: was/became
• अभवत्: क्रिया (आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd/प्रथम), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्राह्मणकन्यका: a Brahmin girl
• ब्राह्मणकन्यका: कर्तृ-समाप्य (predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण + कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ब्राह्मणस्य कन्यका)

• सौमिनी: Sauminī
• सौमिनी: कर्ता-विशेषण/नाम (नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौमिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नामधेय

• नाम: by name
• नाम: सम्बन्ध (वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामनिर्देश (indeclinable: ‘by name’)

• चन्द्रास्या: moon-faced
• चन्द्रास्या: कर्तृ-विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्या आस्यं चन्द्रवत् सा)

• सर्वलक्षणसंयुता: endowed with all auspicious marks
• सर्वलक्षणसंयुता: कर्तृ-विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + लक्षण + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वैः लक्षणैः संयुता)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: karmic-transmigration (punarjanma) framing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shiva Purana theme that embodied status can change across births due to karma, while inner auspicious potential and the possibility of upliftment remain—especially through devotion and the purifying grace of Lord Shiva.

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

By stressing past-life identity and present condition, the verse sets up the Purana’s message that approaching Saguna Shiva through Linga-worship is open to all and can transform one’s destiny, overriding social labels through spiritual merit.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady Shiva-bhakti—daily japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), simple Linga-pūjā with water, and wearing/using rudrākṣa with purity of conduct—to purify karmic impressions.