Shloka 33

Ghuśmeśa-jyotirliṅga-māhātmya

The Greatness of the Ghuśmeśa Jyotirlinga

Devanagari script

सा सुदेहाग्रहं नैव मुमोचात्मजकाम्यया । प्रत्युवाच पतिं प्रेम्णा सांजलिर्नतमस्तका

Transliteration

sā sudehāgrahaṃ naiva mumocātmajakāmyayā | pratyuvāca patiṃ premṇā sāṃjalirnatamastakā

Translation

Longing for a son, she did not in the least relinquish her attachment to her beautiful body. Then, with loving devotion, hands joined in reverence and head bowed, she replied to her husband.

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सुदेहा-ग्रहम्: Sudehā’s insistence/obstinacy
• सुदेहा-ग्रहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुदेहा (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘सुदेहायाः ग्रहः’ (Sudehā’s insistence/hold)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• एव: at all; indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphasis)

• मुमोच: released; gave up
• मुमोच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• आत्मज-काम्यया: because of desire for a son
• आत्मज-काम्यया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक) + काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; तृतीया-हेतौ (instrumental of cause): ‘आत्मजस्य काम्यया’ (due to desire for a son)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उप-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पतिम्: (to) her husband
• पतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• प्रेम्णा: with love
• प्रेम्णा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/भाव (by/with affection)

• स-अञ्जलिः: with folded hands
• स-अञ्जलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: ‘अञ्जलिः सह’ (with joined palms)

• नत-मस्तका: with bowed head
• नत-मस्तका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नत (प्रातिपदिक; √नम्-क्त) + मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: ‘नतं मस्तकं यस्याः सा’ (whose head is bowed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the dialogue of a devoted wife addressing her husband)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Ghṛṣṇeśvara

Sthala Purana: Within the Ghṛṣṇeśvara cycle, domestic desire and rivalry are shown as pāśa (bondage) that veils discernment; the narrative prepares the contrast between egoic clinging and the liberating steadiness of Śiva-bhakti that culminates in the Jyotirliṅga’s grace.

Significance: Pilgrimage is framed as transforming household suffering into dharmic clarity; the devotee learns to relinquish attachment (dehābhimāna) and seek Śiva’s anugraha.

FAQs

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

It highlights how worldly desire (here, yearning for a son) can intensify attachment to the body, while true spiritual progress is marked by humility and loving, reverent speech—qualities that Shaiva Siddhanta treats as supportive of gradual purification.

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

The verse contrasts bodily clinging with devotional conduct (añjali, bowed head). In Linga worship, such outward humility is meant to mature into inner surrender to Saguna Shiva, leading the devotee beyond ego and possessiveness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a daily bhakti discipline: offer añjali and bow before Shiva’s Linga, chant the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a prayer to reduce attachment, and cultivate respectful, truthful speech as a vow (vrata) alongside worship.