Shloka 44

ब्राह्मणीस्वर्गतिवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

बंधनार्थं हि गोः पार्श्वमनयद्दुग्धलालसः । पुनर्गौश्च तदा क्रुद्धा शृंगेनाताडयच्च तम्

Transliteration

baṃdhanārthaṃ hi goḥ pārśvamanayaddugdhalālasaḥ | punargauśca tadā kruddhā śṛṃgenātāḍayacca tam

Translation

Craving her milk, he drew near the cow’s side to bind her. But the cow, angered then, struck him again with her horn.

Word by Word

• बंधनार्थम्: for the purpose of binding
• बंधनार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बंधन + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण), तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः): बन्धनस्य अर्थः → बन्धनार्थम्; accusative used adverbially ‘for the purpose of’

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle/emphasis)

• गोः: of the cow
• गोः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• पार्श्वम्: side/flank
• पार्श्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अनयत्: led/brought
• अनयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; √नी ‘to lead’ with prefix आ- implied by context not present here (simple ‘led’)

• दुग्धलालसः: desirous of milk
• दुग्धलालसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुग्ध + लालस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः): दुग्धस्य लालसः ‘desirous of milk’

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• गौः: the cow
• गौः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• क्रुद्धा: angry
• क्रुद्धा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; √क्रुध् ‘to be angry’ → क्रुद्धा ‘angered’

• शृंगेन: with (her) horn
• शृंगेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शृंग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• अताडयत्: struck
• अताडयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ताड् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; prefix आ- (आताडयत्) ‘struck’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how craving (lālasa) and coercion lead to immediate suffering; Shaiva teaching emphasizes mastering desire and acting in dharma so the soul (paśu) loosens the bonds (pāśa) that obstruct grace (pati, Shiva).

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

In Jyotirlinga-centered storytelling, such episodes function as ethical preparation: approaching Saguna Shiva (Linga) is not merely pilgrimage, but inner purification—replacing force and greed with humility, self-control, and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a vow of restraint (niyama), offering milk symbolically to Shiva rather than grasping through compulsion—cultivating non-violence and contentment.