Shloka 49

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

Embryonic Condition, Bodily Transformation, and Instruction in Detachment

Devanagari script

शुक्रोर्द्धं कुडवं ज्ञेयं तद्बीजं देहिनां बलम् । मांसस्य चैकपिंडेन पलसाहस्रमुच्यते

Transliteration

śukrorddhaṃ kuḍavaṃ jñeyaṃ tadbījaṃ dehināṃ balam | māṃsasya caikapiṃḍena palasāhasramucyate

Translation

Wisse, dass ein halber kuḍava das Maß des Samens ist; er ist der Same und die Kraft der verkörperten Wesen. Und es heißt, aus einem einzigen Fleischklumpen entstünden tausend palas an Gewicht.

Word by Word

• शुक्र: of semen
• शुक्र: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (in compound with अर्धम्)

• अर्धम्: half
• अर्धम्: Pramana (प्रमाण/Measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘half’

• कुडवम्: a kuḍava (measure)
• कुडवम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; measure stated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुडव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्रव्यमान-प्रमाण (measure unit)

• ज्ञेयम्: is to be known/considered
• ज्ञेयम्: Vidhi (विधि/Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘ज्ञातव्यम्’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; demonstrative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• बीजम्: seed
• बीजम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• देहिनाम्: of embodied beings
• देहिनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• बलम्: strength
• बलम्: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मांसस्य: of flesh
• मांसस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एकपिण्डेन: by one lump/ball
• एकपिण्डेन: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (एकः पिण्डः)

• पलसाहस्रम्: a thousand palas
• पलसाहस्रम्: Pramana (प्रमाण/Measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल + साहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पलानां साहस्रम् = thousand palas)

• उच्यते: is said/called
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

FAQs

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

It highlights the body’s dependence on subtle vital essences and material aggregates, encouraging vairāgya (dispassion) and clear discernment so the pashu (bound soul) turns toward Pati (Shiva) rather than identifying with bodily measures.

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

By stressing the body’s constructed and measurable nature, the verse supports Linga-worship as a discipline of shifting attention from perishable embodiment to Saguna Shiva as the accessible focus leading the devotee toward the transcendent (Nirguna) reality of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is brahmacarya/indriya-saṃyama (sense-restraint) to conserve bala (vital strength), combined with steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplative reflection on the impermanence of the body.