Shloka 19

Munipraśna-varṇana

Description of the Sages’ Inquiry

Devanagari script

अशूरा अरणप्रीताः पलायनपरायणाः । कुचौरवृत्तयः शूद्रा ः कामकिंकरचेतसः

Transliteration

aśūrā araṇaprītāḥ palāyanaparāyaṇāḥ | kucauravṛttayaḥ śūdrā ḥ kāmakiṃkaracetasaḥ

Translation

Sie sind ohne Heldenmut, haben Gefallen an Wildnis und Unordnung und sind stets zur Flucht geneigt. Von kleinem Diebstahl lebend, werden solche Menschen—obwohl als Śūdras geboren—im Geist zu Knechten der Begierde.

Word by Word

• अशूराः: unheroic
• अशूराः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (not heroic/cowardly)

• अरणप्रीताः: fond of fighting
• अरणप्रीताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरण-प्रिय/प्रीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—अरणे प्रीतः (fond of battle/war) तत्पुरुष

• पलायनपरायणाः: given to fleeing
• पलायनपरायणाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पलायन-परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—पलायने परायणः (intent on fleeing) तत्पुरुष

• कुचौरवृत्तयः: of base thievish conduct
• कुचौरवृत्तयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कु-चौर-वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—कुचौरवृत्तिः (having the conduct of a bad thief) कर्मधारय (descriptive)

• शूद्राः: Shudras
• शूद्राः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कामकिंकरचेतसः: whose minds are slaves of desire
• कामकिंकरचेतसः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम-किंकर-चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—कामस्य किंकरः (servant of desire) तत्पुरुष + चेतस् (mind)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The text’s Kāśī frame treats fearfulness, flight, and desire-slavery as signs of Kali’s concealment; Viśveśvara in Avimukta is the refuge that grants fearlessness and steadiness through grace.

Significance: Approaching Viśvanātha is traditionally associated with abhaya (fearlessness) and release from kāma-driven bondage, redirecting the mind toward Śiva.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It diagnoses a fall in dharma: fear, escapism, and desire-driven living become dominant. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, kāma is a form of pāśa (bondage) that keeps the paśu (individual soul) from turning toward Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga-worship centers the mind on Shiva as the stabilizing Lord. By devotion, japa, and disciplined conduct, the worshipper replaces flighty, desire-led tendencies with steadiness and dharmic courage aligned to Saguna Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical remedy is daily Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrāksha as supports for restraint and clarity, reducing kāma-driven agitation and strengthening sattva.