Shloka 20

ब्राह्मणीमरणवर्णनम् (Account of the Brahmin Woman’s Death) — within Nandikeśvara-māhātmya

Devanagari script

पत्नी च पालयामास पुत्रौ पुत्रहितैषिणी । पुत्रौ च वर्जयित्वा च विभक्तं वै धनं तया

Transliteration

patnī ca pālayāmāsa putrau putrahitaiṣiṇī | putrau ca varjayitvā ca vibhaktaṃ vai dhanaṃ tayā

Translation

And the wife, devoted to her sons’ welfare, raised and protected the two sons. Yet, setting the sons aside (not involving them), she herself proceeded to apportion the wealth.

Word by Word

• patnī: the wife
• patnī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta conjunction

• pālayāmāsa: protected/maintained
• pālayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (pāl) (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्) past/imperfect, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• putrau: two sons
• putrau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Dvivacana (द्विवचन)

• putra-hita-eṣiṇī: seeking her sons’ welfare
• putra-hita-eṣiṇī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक) + hita (प्रातिपदिक) + eṣiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘putrāṇāṃ hitaṃ eṣate’ = seeking sons’ welfare; viśeṣaṇa of patnī

• putrau: two sons
• putrau: Karma (कर्म) (of varjayitvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Dvivacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• varjayitvā: having excluded/left aside
• varjayitvā: Kriyā (क्रिया) (pūrvakāla)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ज् (varj) (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• vibhaktam: divided/apportioned
• vibhaktam: Karma (कर्म) (predicate of dhanaṃ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√bhaj (भज्) (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/2nd), Ekavacana; agrees with dhanaṃ

• vai: indeed
• vai: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (निपात) emphatic

• dhanam: wealth
• dhanam: Karma (कर्म) / object-understood (what was divided)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/2nd), Ekavacana

• tayā: by her
• tayā: Karaṇa (करण) / Kartṛ-karaṇa (agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; instrumental

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic responsibility in household life: caring for dependents and handling wealth with restraint—conduct that supports inner purity (śuddhi) and prepares the mind for devotion to Shiva.

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

In Shaiva Siddhanta, disciplined worldly duty (gṛhastha-dharma) is not opposed to Saguna Shiva worship; ethical stewardship reduces bondage (pāśa) and strengthens devotion, making Linga worship fruitful.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

No specific ritual is stated; the implied practice is daily Shiva-bhakti supported by dharmic living—e.g., chanting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a disciplined, non-greedy mind.