Shloka 38

दक्षस्य प्रजावृद्ध्युपायः — Dakṣa’s Means for Increasing Progeny

Devanagari script

मुहुर्मुहुरभद्रं त्वमचरो मेऽधमा ऽधम । विभवेद्भ्रमतस्तेऽतः पदं लोकेषु स्थिरम्

Transliteration

muhurmuhurabhadraṃ tvamacaro me'dhamā 'dhama | vibhavedbhramataste'taḥ padaṃ lokeṣu sthiram

Translation

Again and again, O Abhadra, you wander without rest—base woman, most fallen. Therefore, through your roaming amid prosperity and display, your standing in the worlds will not be stable.

Word by Word

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• मुहुः: repeatedly
• मुहुः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति (reduplication) for emphasis; अव्यय

• अभद्रम्: inauspiciousness / evil
• अभद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अचरः: unmoving / inactive
• अचरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; enclitic form

• अधम: O wretch
• अधम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• अधम: O vile one
• अधम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति for emphasis

• विभवेत्: may become / may arise
• विभवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भ्रमतः: of (you) wandering
• भ्रमतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय कृदन्त (Present active participle), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; ‘भ्रमत्’→‘भ्रमतः’ (of one who wanders)

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; enclitic

• अतः: therefore / from this
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (causal/consequential indeclinable)

• पदम्: state / position
• पदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; here as प्रथमा (subject) with ‘स्थिरम्’

• लोकेषु: in the worlds
• लोकेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• स्थिरम्: stable
• स्थिरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘पदम्’)

Speaker

Sati (speaking in anguish to Abhadra/maidservant in the Satī-khaṇḍa narrative context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it is a domestic/personal reprimand in Satī’s narrative, forecasting instability of worldly ‘pada’ due to restless, display-driven wandering.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Sati
• Abhadra

FAQs

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

The verse warns that a life driven by restless roaming and pride in worldly prosperity (vibhava) cannot yield lasting honor or stability; in Shaiva understanding, only alignment with dharma and devotion to Pati (Shiva) gives enduring steadiness.

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

It contrasts unstable worldly standing with the steadiness gained by taking refuge in Saguna Shiva through disciplined devotion; Linga-worship is presented in the Purana as a stabilizing focus that turns the mind from outward wandering to inward surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to restrain restlessness through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple Shaiva discipline such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and daily Shiva-puja, cultivating humility instead of pride in vibhava.