Shloka 2

ब्राह्मणीस्वर्गतिवर्णनम्

Brāhmaṇī-Svargati-Varṇana: Account of a Brāhmaṇa Woman’s Ascent to Heaven

Devanagari script

स उवाच प्रियां स्वीयां दृष्ट्वा गामंगणे स्थिताम् । अदुग्धां खेदनिर्विण्णो दोग्धुकामो मुनीश्वराः

Transliteration

sa uvāca priyāṃ svīyāṃ dṛṣṭvā gāmaṃgaṇe sthitām | adugdhāṃ khedanirviṇṇo dogdhukāmo munīśvarāḥ

Translation

Seeing his beloved cow standing in the courtyard, still unmilked, the great sage—wearied and distressed—spoke, desiring to milk her.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• प्रियाम्: (to) his beloved/wife
• प्रियाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• स्वीयाम्: his own
• स्वीयाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (प्रियाम्)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• गाम्: the cow
• गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अङ्गणे: in the courtyard
• अङ्गणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• स्थिताम्: standing/placed
• स्थिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गाम्)

• अदुग्धाम्: unmilked
• अदुग्धाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) (नञ्-पूर्वक)
• Form: नञ्-समासपूर्वक-विशेषणम्; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गाम्)

• खेद-निर्विण्णः: distressed and dejected
• खेद-निर्विण्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खेद (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्विण्ण (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (खेदेन निर्विण्णः)

• दोग्धु-कामः: desiring to milk
• दोग्धु-कामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दोग्धु (दुह्-धातोः तुमुन्/तुमर्थ-रूप) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (दोग्धुं कामः)

• मुनीश्वराः: O lords of sages
• मुनीश्वराः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मुनीनां ईश्वराः); संबोधनार्थे बहुवचन-प्रयोगः (हे मुनीश्वराः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrator, conveying the episode to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• cow
• sage

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic attentiveness: even a sage feels concern when a rightful duty is left undone. In Shaiva thought, such mindful responsibility can become seva offered to Pati (Shiva) when performed without ego.

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

Though the verse is domestic in setting, it supports the Shiva Purana’s teaching that Saguna Shiva is approached through disciplined, sattvic living—turning ordinary actions into reverent service that prepares the mind for Linga worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is mindful karma-yoga: perform daily duties with purity and remembrance—mentally repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while acting—so action becomes worship.