Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

तस्य किं ज्ञान सुतपो जपहोमप्रपूजनैः । विद्यया दानतः किम्वा स्त्रीभिर्यस्य मनो हृतम्

Transliteration

tasya kiṃ jñāna sutapo japahomaprapūjanaiḥ | vidyayā dānataḥ kimvā strībhiryasya mano hṛtam

Translation

What use are spiritual knowledge, severe austerities, japa, homa, and elaborate worship for one whose mind has been stolen away by attachment to women? Of what avail are learning and charity to him either, when his inner awareness is carried off by sensual fascination?

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• किम्: what (use is)
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सुतपः: good austerity/penance
• सुतपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-तपस् (good austerity)

• जप: recitation
• जप: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्गरूपेण)

• होम: fire-offering
• होम: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्गरूपेण)

• प्रपूजनैः: by (acts of) worship
• प्रपूजनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र-पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• विद्यया: by learning/knowledge
• विद्यया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• दानतः: by/through charity
• दानतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb), ‘from/through giving’

• किम्: what (use)
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक (disjunctive particle), अव्यय

• स्त्रीभिः: by women
• स्त्रीभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हृतम्: stolen/abducted
• हृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘मनः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that external religious merits—knowledge, austerity, ritual, and charity—do not mature into liberation if the mind is dominated by lust and attachment; Shaiva practice must be rooted in inner purity (chitta-shuddhi) and dispassion.

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

Linga worship is meant to turn the mind toward Shiva as Pati (the Lord) and away from pasha (bondage). If the mind is captivated by sensuality, the worship remains outward and cannot become true bhakti that leads toward Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is to pair japa and pūjā with restraint and mind-discipline—steady Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and self-control—so that desire does not hijack the fruits of worship.