Shloka 9

Ghuśmā–Sudehā: Jealousy, Household Honor, and the Ethics of Śaiva Merit (गुश्मा–सुदेहा प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

घुश्माऽवदद्वधूपुत्रौ त्वदीयौ न मदीयकौ । वधूः पुत्रश्च तां प्रीत्या प्रसूं श्वश्रममन्यत

Transliteration

ghuśmā'vadadvadhūputrau tvadīyau na madīyakau | vadhūḥ putraśca tāṃ prītyā prasūṃ śvaśramamanyata

Translation

Ghuśmā said, “The bride and the son belong to you, not to me.” Out of affection, both the daughter-in-law and the son regarded the mother who bore him as their own mother-in-law.

Word by Word

• घुश्मा: Ghuṣmā
• घुश्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घुष्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अवदत्: said
• अवदत्: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वधू: bride/daughter-in-law
• वधू: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वधू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (समासाङ्ग)

• पुत्रौ: two sons
• पुत्रौ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; (समासाङ्ग)

• वधूपुत्रौ: the two sons of the bride
• वधूपुत्रौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वधू + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वध्वाः पुत्रौ)

• त्वदीयौ: yours
• त्वदीयौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वद् + ईय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; स्वत्ववाचक विशेषण (possessive adjective)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• मदीयकौ: mine
• मदीयकौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद् + ईयक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; स्वत्ववाचक विशेषण

• वधूः: the bride/daughter-in-law
• वधूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वधू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुत्रः: the son
• पुत्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन

• प्रसूम्: mother
• प्रसूम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘mother’ (one who has borne)

• श्वश्रम्: mother-in-law
• श्वश्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वश्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (पाठभेदे श्वश्रूम्)

• अन्यत: considered, thought
• अन्यत: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (मन्यते)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kotirudra Saṃhitā account to the sages; verse contains Ghuśmā’s direct speech)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Ghuśmā
• son
• daughter-in-law

FAQs

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

It highlights tyāga (non-possessiveness) and humility in family life—Ghuśmā refuses egoic ownership, embodying the Shaiva ideal that purity of heart and surrender support Shiva’s grace.

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

In Linga-bhakti, devotion is expressed not only through ritual but through character—selflessness, absence of “mine-ness,” and loving conduct are presented as signs of true Saguna Shiva devotion that ripens the seeker for Shiva’s compassion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice inner renunciation while doing daily duties: repeat the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with the भावना (bhāva) of offering relationships and outcomes to Shiva, reducing attachment and ego.