Shloka 52

Devanagari script

रोगिणो नौषधं शश्वद्रोचते गिरिसत्तम । कुपथ्यं रोचतेऽभीक्ष्णं महादोषकरं सदा

Transliteration

rogiṇo nauṣadhaṃ śaśvadrocate girisattama | kupathyaṃ rocate'bhīkṣṇaṃ mahādoṣakaraṃ sadā

Translation

O best of mountains, to a sick person the true medicine never seems agreeable; but unwholesome fare repeatedly appears pleasing—though it always produces great harm.

Word by Word

• रोगिणः: the sick persons
• रोगिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• औषधम्: medicine
• औषधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: औषध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• शश्वत्: always
• शश्वत्: Kālādhi karaṇa/Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (काल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शश्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• रोचते: is pleasing/appeals
• रोचते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• गिरिसत्तम: O best of mountains
• गिरिसत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गिरिणां सत्तमः)

• कुपथ्यम्: unwholesome food/regimen
• कुपथ्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुपथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रोचते: is pleasing/appeals
• रोचते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अभीक्ष्णम्: repeatedly; very often
• अभीक्ष्णम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverb: repeatedly/very often)

• महादोषकरम्: causing great harm/fault
• महादोषकरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + दोष + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (महान् दोषः यस्य/येन क्रियते)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नित्यत्ववाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: always)

Speaker

Pārvatī (addressing Himālaya, ‘girisattama’)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches viveka (discernment): the bound soul often dislikes what truly heals (discipline, mantra, right conduct) and repeatedly chooses what feels pleasant but strengthens bondage and suffering—like a patient preferring harmful food over medicine.

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva devotion can feel ‘austere’ at first (regular pūjā, restraint, purity), yet they are the true remedy that purifies mala and loosens pāśa; worldly indulgence may feel sweet but increases inner impurity and agitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt the ‘medicine’ of steady Shaiva sādhanā—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), simple Linga-pūjā, and sattvic restraint—while consciously avoiding repeated kupathya (habits that disturb mind and dharma).