Shloka 5

ब्राह्मणीस्वर्गतिवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

वत्सोपि कर्षमाणश्च पादे वै पादपीडनम् । चकार ब्राह्मणश्चैव कष्टं प्राप्तश्च सुव्रताः

Transliteration

vatsopi karṣamāṇaśca pāde vai pādapīḍanam | cakāra brāhmaṇaścaiva kaṣṭaṃ prāptaśca suvratāḥ

Translation

Even the calf, while tugging, pressed upon his foot; and the brāhmaṇa too suffered pain. Thus the man of good vows encountered hardship.

Word by Word

• वत्सः: the calf
• वत्सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/even)

• कर्षमाणः: dragging/pulling
• कर्षमाणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृष् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पादे: on the foot
• पादे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• पादपीडनम्: pressing/crushing of the foot
• पादपीडनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + पीडन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पादस्य पीडनम्)

• चकार: did/performed
• चकार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणः: the Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (restrictive/emphatic particle)

• कष्टम्: pain/distress
• कष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राप्तः: having obtained/being afflicted (with)
• प्राप्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सुव्रताः: of good vows/virtuous
• सुव्रताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुव्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (as transmitted); विशेषण (epithet)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

FAQs

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

It highlights how even a righteous person may face sudden bodily hardship; in Shaiva understanding, such trials refine the devotee’s steadiness (dhairya) and deepen surrender to Pati (Shiva), the Lord who guides beings beyond karma toward grace.

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

In Kotirudrasaṃhitā narratives, hardships often function as turning points that redirect attention from mere circumstance to refuge in Saguna Shiva (Linga worship), where the devotee learns to seek Shiva’s protection and meaning rather than reacting with resentment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is patient japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while accepting discomfort without anger, supported by simple Shiva-upacharas like vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and mindful remembrance of Shiva as the inner witness.