Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

पुत्रावूचतुः । किं न्यूनं विद्यते मातः कष्टं यद्विद्यते महत् । व्रियतां तदृतं प्रीत्या तदावां करवावहे

Transliteration

putrāvūcatuḥ | kiṃ nyūnaṃ vidyate mātaḥ kaṣṭaṃ yadvidyate mahat | vriyatāṃ tadṛtaṃ prītyā tadāvāṃ karavāvahe

Translation

The sons said: “Mother, what lack is there for you? What great hardship has arisen? Tell us the truth with affection; that very duty or remedy we two shall gladly carry out.”

Word by Word

• पुत्रौ: the two sons
• पुत्रौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Dual)

• ऊचतुः: said
• ऊचतुः: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद (Perfect, 3rd person dual, Parasmaipada)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: कर्म/प्रश्न (interrogative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative)

• न्यूनम्: lacking; deficient
• न्यूनम्: विशेषण (adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न्यून (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); विशेषण (qualifier of 'किम्')

• विद्यते: is found; exists
• विद्यते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (Present, 3rd person singular, Ātmanepada)

• मातः: O mother
• मातः: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Vocative, Singular)

• कष्टम्: distress; trouble
• कष्टम्: कर्म/विषय (object/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• यत्: which
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• विद्यते: exists
• विद्यते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (Present, 3rd person singular, Ātmanepada)

• महत्: great; severe
• महत्: विशेषण (adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); विशेषण (qualifier of 'कष्टम्')

• व्रियताम्: please choose; accept
• व्रियताम्: क्रिया (injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (Imperative, 2nd person singular, Ātmanepada); धात्वर्थः: 'to choose/accept'

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• ऋतम्: truth; right course
• ऋतम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• प्रीत्या: with affection; gladly
• प्रीत्या: करण/हेतु (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Instrumental, Singular); हेतौ/भावे (with affection)

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• आवाम्: we two
• आवाम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Nominative, Dual); उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person dual pronoun)

• करवावहे: let us two do (it)
• करवावहे: क्रिया (proposal/action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), उत्तम-पुरुष, द्विवचन; आत्मनेपद (Imperative, 1st person dual, Ātmanepada): 'let us two do'

Speaker

The two sons (putrau)

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 compassion and truthful speech: the sons invite their mother to reveal her suffering so they may serve. In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such selfless seva and sincerity purify the pashu (individual soul) and make it fit for Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

While the verse is domestic in tone, it expresses the inner attitude required in Saguna Shiva worship—humility, readiness to act, and loving truthfulness. Such bhava supports fruitful pilgrimage and Linga worship described throughout the Kotirudra Samhita.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is sankalpa-driven seva: speak truth, listen with compassion, and act to relieve suffering. A devotee may pair this with japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before undertaking service as an offering to Shiva.