Shloka 36

गौतमविघ्नप्रकरणम्

Episode of Obstacles to Gautama; Gaṇeśa’s Appearing Through Misguided Worship

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच एतस्मिन्नन्तरे विप्रो गौतमं पर्यभर्त्सयन् । विप्रपत्न्यस्तथाऽहल्यां दुर्वचोभिर्व्यथां ददुः

Transliteration

sūta uvāca etasminnantare vipro gautamaṃ paryabhartsayan | viprapatnyastathā'halyāṃ durvacobhirvyathāṃ daduḥ

Translation

Sūta said: In the meantime, a certain brāhmaṇa began to rebuke Gautama; and the wives of the brāhmaṇas, likewise, pained Ahalyā with harsh and wounding words.

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta (narrator)
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अन्तरे: in the interval / meanwhile
• अन्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• विप्रः: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गौतमम्: Gautama
• गौतमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पर्यभर्त्सयन्: rebuking, scolding
• पर्यभर्त्सयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + √भर्त्स् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (विप्रः इति विशेषण)

• विप्रपत्न्यः: wives of the brāhmaṇas
• विप्रपत्न्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: विप्राणां पत्न्यः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/adverb)

• अहल्याम्: Ahalyā
• अहल्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दुर्वचोभिः: with harsh words
• दुर्वचोभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर् + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: दुर्-वचांसि (harsh words); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• व्यथाम्: pain, distress
• व्यथाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ददुः: they gave / caused
• ददुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Gautama
• Ahalyā
• Brāhmaṇa (vipra)
• Brāhmaṇa wives (viprapatnyaḥ)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how adharma can arise through speech: harsh words inflict real suffering and create karmic bondage. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, purity of conduct and restraint (especially in speech) support the soul’s movement toward Shiva’s grace, while blame and cruelty strengthen pasha (bondage).

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

Though the verse is narrative, it contrasts worldly agitation with the steadiness cultivated in Shiva worship. Linga-bhakti and devotion to Saguna Shiva train the mind toward compassion and discrimination (viveka), reducing tendencies like slander and hostility that obstruct inner purity required for approaching Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is vāṅ-niyama (discipline of speech) alongside japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” performed with humility. Such practice purifies the mind and counters the impulse to harm others through words.