Shloka 12

मुक्तयतिदेहसंस्काररहस्यं — The Esoteric Rites for the Bodies of Liberated Ascetics

Devanagari script

देहदौर्बल्यवशतो यद्यधैर्य्यधरो यतिः । अकामश्च शिवं स्मृत्वा स जीर्णां स्वां तनुं त्यजेत्

Transliteration

dehadaurbalyavaśato yadyadhairyyadharo yatiḥ | akāmaśca śivaṃ smṛtvā sa jīrṇāṃ svāṃ tanuṃ tyajet

Translation

If an ascetic, due to bodily weakness, becomes overwhelmed by lack of steadiness, then—free from desire—remembering Lord Śiva, he may relinquish his own worn-out body.

Word by Word

• देह-दौर्बल्य-वशतः: due to the weakness of the body
• देह-दौर्बल्य-वशतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + दौर्बल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुष/हेत्वर्थे अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; ‘वशतः’ इति अव्ययप्राय (ablatival adverb)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तसूचक (conditional particle)

• अधैर्य-धरः: possessing lack of steadiness
• अधैर्य-धरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधैर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अधैर्यं धरतीति)

• यतिः: the ascetic
• यतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अकामः: without desire
• अकामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समासान्त विशेषण (desireless)

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

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having remembered’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• जीर्णाम्: worn-out
• जीर्णाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘worn out’ (qualifying तनुम्)

• स्वाम्: his own
• स्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; स्वकीय (possessive)

• तनुम्: body
• तनुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• त्यजेत्: should abandon
• त्यजेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching of the Kailasa Samhita to the sages in the Shiva Purana frame-story)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that when the body becomes incapable and the mind loses steadiness, a true renunciate should remain desireless and take refuge in Śiva-smaraṇa; liberation is approached through detachment and God-remembrance rather than fear or craving.

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

Remembering Śiva here aligns with Saguna devotion—holding the Lord (often worshipped as the Liṅga) firmly in awareness—so that the final transition is sanctified by bhakti and surrender to Pati (Śiva), the liberator of the bound soul.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Śiva-smaraṇa at life’s end is implied—mentally repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) or meditating on Śiva’s form/Liṅga with desirelessness and steadiness, as a final act of surrender.