Shloka 19

अनरण्यसुता–पिप्पलादचरितम् / The Episode of Anaraṇya’s Daughter and Sage Pippalāda

Devanagari script

पिप्पलादं मुनि श्रेष्ठं तपसा पूतविग्रहम् । त्यक्त्वा कथं भजेयं त्वां स्त्रीजितं रतिलम्पटम्

Transliteration

pippalādaṃ muni śreṣṭhaṃ tapasā pūtavigraham | tyaktvā kathaṃ bhajeyaṃ tvāṃ strījitaṃ ratilampaṭam

Translation

“Having abandoned the foremost sage Pippalāda—whose very body has been purified by austerity—how could I worship you, one conquered by a woman and greedy for sensual pleasure?”

Word by Word

• पिप्पलादम्: Pippalāda
• पिप्पलादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिप्पलाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेष्य (proper name: Pippalāda)

• मुनि-श्रेष्ठम्: best of sages
• मुनि-श्रेष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुनीनां श्रेष्ठः = best of sages)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; करण (by austerity)

• पूत-विग्रहम्: having a purified body
• पूत-विग्रहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पू) + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (पूतः विग्रहः यस्य/यः = purified-bodied); ‘पूत’ = past participle from √पू (to purify)

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभावः; √त्यज् = to abandon

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रश्नाव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• भजेयम्: should I worship/serve
• भजेयम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; √भज् = to worship/serve

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्त्री-जितम्: conquered by a woman
• स्त्री-जितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √जि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (स्त्रिया जितः = conquered by a woman); ‘जित’ = past participle from √जि (to conquer)

• रति-लम्पटम्: lecherous/lustful
• रति-लम्पटम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक) + लम्पट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रत्यां लम्पटः = lustful for pleasure)

Speaker

Pārvatī (speaking in a testing/critical tone within the narrative of the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Pippalāda

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts tapas-born purity with bondage to kāma (desire). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, attachment is a pasha (bond) that obscures devotion; true worship requires inner purity, discrimination, and freedom from being “conquered” by impulses.

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship is not merely external reverence; it must be supported by sādhana—self-restraint, purity, and steadiness of mind. The verse implies that devotion becomes hollow when the worshipper is dominated by sensual craving rather than oriented to Shiva as Pati (the liberating Lord).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is vairāgya with tapas: disciplined japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with sāttvic conduct. If practiced ritually, it aligns with Mahāśivarātri-style observances—fasting, vigilance, and mantra-focused worship to weaken desire-bonds.