Shloka 38

Garbha-sthiti, Deha-pariṇāma, and Vairāgya-upadeśa

Embryonic Condition, Bodily Transformation, and Instruction in Detachment

Devanagari script

यंत्रेण पीडिता यद्वन्निस्सारा स्स्युस्तिलाः क्षणात् । तथा शरीरं निस्सारं योनियंत्रनिपीडनात्

Transliteration

yaṃtreṇa pīḍitā yadvannissārā ssyustilāḥ kṣaṇāt | tathā śarīraṃ nissāraṃ yoniyaṃtranipīḍanāt

Translation

Wie Sesamsamen, wenn sie in einer Presse gedrückt werden, in einem Augenblick ihres Wesens beraubt sind, so wird auch der Körper wesenlos, wenn er vom Mechanismus des Mutterleibes gequetscht wird. Darum soll der Weise den Körper nicht als Selbst ergreifen, sondern Zuflucht bei Śiva suchen, dem Herrn jenseits der Geburt.

Word by Word

• यन्त्रेण: by a press/device
• यन्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• पीडिता: pressed/crushed
• पीडिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीड् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘पीडिता’ (pressed)

• यद्वत्: just as
• यद्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle: ‘just as’)

• निःसाराः: essence-less
• निःसाराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निःसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• स्युः: would be
• स्युः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• तिलाः: sesame seeds
• तिलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• क्षणात्: in a moment/from a moment
• क्षणात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• तथा: so/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमानान्वय (adverb: ‘so/likewise’)

• शरीरम्: body
• शरीरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निःसारम्: essence-less
• निःसारम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निःसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (शरीरम्)

• योनि-यन्त्र-निपीडनात्: from the compression by the womb-press
• योनि-यन्त्र-निपीडनात्: Apadana (अपादान/कारण-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि + यन्त्र + निपीडन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (determinative): योन्या यन्त्रेण निपीडनम् / योनियन्त्रस्य निपीडनम् (contextual)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Umā/Parvati in the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

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 vairāgya (dispassion): the body is a perishable product of birth-processes and cannot be the enduring Self. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, the pashu (individual soul) should stop mistaking the body for its essence and seek Pati (Śiva) for liberation from pasha (bondage).

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

By showing the body’s fragility, the verse redirects devotion toward Śiva as the stable refuge. Linga-worship symbolizes the transcendent Pati beyond birth and decay, while Saguna Śiva devotion trains the mind to detach from bodily identity and anchor in divine reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with contemplation on the impermanence of the body, and cultivate daily Śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance). If following Shaiva practice, support this with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as reminders of renunciation and Śiva-bhakti.