Shloka 25

चाण्डालीसद्गतिवर्णनम् (Cāṇḍālī-sadgati-varṇanam) — “Account of the Cāṇḍālī’s Attainment of a Good Destiny”

Devanagari script

गत्वा तत्राथ चांडाली प्रार्थयन्ती महाजनान् । यत्र तत्र चचारासौ दीनवाक्प्रसृताञ्जलिः

Transliteration

gatvā tatrātha cāṃḍālī prārthayantī mahājanān | yatra tatra cacārāsau dīnavākprasṛtāñjaliḥ

Translation

Having gone there, the Caṇḍālī woman began imploring the prominent people; with sorrowful words and hands extended in supplication, she wandered here and there.

Word by Word

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (prior action), अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequencing particle)

• cāṇḍālī: the outcaste woman (Caṇḍālī)
• cāṇḍālī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāṇḍālī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• prārthayantī: begging/entreating
• prārthayantī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-arth (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mahājanān: great people
• mahājanān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (महान्तः जनाः)

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (relative locative adverb)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (correlative locative adverb)

• cacāra: wandered/went about
• cacāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• asau: she
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asau (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (अन्वयात्), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• dīna-vāk-prasṛta-añjaliḥ: with humble words and outstretched hands (folded palms)
• dīna-vāk-prasṛta-añjaliḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīna (प्रातिपदिक) + vāk (प्रातिपदिक) + prasṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमासः (यस्याः दीनवाक् प्रसृताञ्जलिः सा), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: In the Gokarṇa setting, the verse intensifies the depiction of dainya (destitution), preparing for the sudden irruption of puṇya through contact with bilva offered to Śiva.

Significance: Highlights the doctrine that social status does not determine eligibility for Śiva’s grace; the narrative is structured to show anugraha arising from unexpected vectors.

FAQs

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

It highlights dainyatā (humble helplessness) as a doorway to Śiva’s anugraha (grace): when worldly support fails, sincere supplication becomes the turning-point toward refuge in the Lord.

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

In Jyotirliṅga narratives, the devotee’s outer journey mirrors an inner shift from social identity to surrender; such humility ripens one to approach Saguna Śiva as the compassionate Lord who accepts all who seek Him.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies a practical bhakti posture—añjali (folded/extended hands) with sincere prayer—supporting japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as one seeks Śiva’s protection and guidance.