Shloka 18

Devanagari script

यमोऽपि धर्ममालोक्य तस्याः कर्म च पौर्विकम् । निवर्त्य निरयावासाच्चक्रे चाण्डालजातिकाम्

Transliteration

yamo'pi dharmamālokya tasyāḥ karma ca paurvikam | nivartya nirayāvāsāccakre cāṇḍālajātikām

Translation

Even Yama, beholding her righteousness and her former deeds, withdrew her from the dwelling of hell and made her take birth in the caste of a Caṇḍāla.

Word by Word

• यमः: Yama
• यमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: also/even)

• धर्मम्: righteousness / dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आलोक्य: having seen
• आलोक्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having seen/considered’

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• कर्म: deed(s), karma
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; अत्र द्वितीया (object)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• पौर्विकम्: former, previous
• पौर्विकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौर्विक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कर्म)

• निवर्त्य: having withdrawn/removed
• निवर्त्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having turned back/removed’

• निरय-आवासात्: from the abode of hell
• निरय-आवासात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरय (प्रातिपदिक) + आवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘निरयस्य आवासः’

• चक्रे: made
• चक्रे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• चाण्डाल-जातिकाम्: (her) a woman of Caṇḍāla caste
• चाण्डाल-जातिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक) + जातिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘चाण्डालस्य जातिका’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights karmic adjudication (dharma/adharma) that drives saṃsāric rebirth; encourages dharma and Śiva-bhakti as the route beyond Yama’s jurisdiction.

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that dharma and prior karmic merit can mitigate even severe consequences: punishment is not arbitrary, and the soul’s trajectory is shaped by accumulated deeds—opening a path for reform and eventual liberation (moksha) under the higher moral order.

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

In the Kotirudra context—centered on Jyotirlinga glory—this kind of karmic “reversal” underscores that turning toward Shiva’s grace through righteous conduct and devotion can transform outcomes, redirecting the soul from darker states toward conditions where spiritual practice becomes possible.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to strengthen dharma through Shiva-oriented sadhana—regular japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and steady worship (puja/abhisheka) to purify karma and avoid lower destinies.