Shloka 33

काली-परिचयः / Himagiri Presents Kālī (Pārvatī) to Śiva

Devanagari script

अतस्तपस्विना शैल न कार्या स्त्रीषु संगतिः । महाविषयमूलं सा ज्ञानवैराग्यनाशिनी

Transliteration

atastapasvinā śaila na kāryā strīṣu saṃgatiḥ | mahāviṣayamūlaṃ sā jñānavairāgyanāśinī

Translation

Therefore, O Mountain, an ascetic should not cultivate intimate association with women; for such attachment becomes the root of powerful sense-enjoyments and destroys both true knowledge and dispassion (vairāgya).

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुफलवाचक-अव्यय (therefore)

• तपस्विना: by an ascetic
• तपस्विना: Kartr̥-sahakari/Agent-instrument (कर्ता-सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन, तृतीया (instrumental singular)

• शैल: O mountain
• शैल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन, संबोधन (vocative)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• कार्या: to be done/should be made
• कार्या: Kriya (क्रिया/obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + यत्/तव्य (कृत्यभाव) → कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: to be done); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; विधेय — 'should be done' (agreeing with 'संगतिः')

• स्त्रीषु: among women / with women
• स्त्रीषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; बहुवचन, सप्तमी (locative plural)

• संगतिः: association, company
• संगतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संगति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; एकवचन, प्रथमा

• महाविषयमूलम्: rooted in great sense-objects
• महाविषयमूलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-विषय-मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; विशेषणम् (qualifying 'सा'); तत्पुरुषः (महान् विषयः यस्य मूलम्)

• सा: that (association)/she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा

• ज्ञानवैराग्यनाशिनी: destroyer of knowledge and dispassion
• ज्ञानवैराग्यनाशिनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान-वैराग्य-नाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक; नाशिनी from √नश् (धातु) + णिनि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; एकवचन, प्रथमा; विशेषणम् (qualifying 'सा'); तत्पुरुषः (ज्ञानस्य वैराग्यस्य च नाशिनी)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Himālaya

FAQs

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

It teaches that a tapasvin must guard the mind from binding attachments; indulgent association fuels sense-craving, which obstructs jñāna (right insight) and vairāgya (detachment), the core supports of liberation under Shiva’s grace.

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

Linga-worship and devotion to Saguna Shiva require inner purity (śuddhi) and steadiness; reducing distracting attachments helps the devotee keep the mind one-pointed in japa, dhyāna, and pūjā, making worship a means to transcend pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is restraint and sense-control supported by Shiva-upāsanā—daily Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), meditation on the Linga, and disciplined conduct; these stabilize vairāgya and protect the mind from viṣaya-vasanās.