Shloka 11

Devanagari script

संतु नार्यः सहस्राणि रूपलावण्यभूमयः । परं निधुवने काले ह्यैकेवेहोपयुज्यते

Transliteration

saṃtu nāryaḥ sahasrāṇi rūpalāvaṇyabhūmayaḥ | paraṃ nidhuvane kāle hyaikevehopayujyate

Translation

Though there be thousands of women, abounding in beauty and charm, yet at the time of amorous union, here only one alone is truly engaged as the partner.

Word by Word

• सन्तु: let there be
• सन्तु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपद

• नार्यः: women
• नार्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• रूप-लावण्य-भूमयः: grounds/bases of beauty and charm
• रूप-लावण्य-भूमयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + लावण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive determinative): रूपस्य लावण्यस्य भूमयः

• परम्: however
• परम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अर्थे—‘but/however’ (विरोधार्थक)

• निधुवने: in sexual union
• निधुवने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधुवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• काले: at the time
• काले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/निपात), हेत्वर्थे/निश्चयार्थे (indeed/for)

• एक एव: only one
• एक एव: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + एव (अव्यय)
• Form: एकः—पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); एव—अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• इह: here
• इह: Desha-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)

• उपयुज्यते: is employed/used
• उपयुज्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-युज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive/कर्मणि), आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages, conveying the dialogue-context of the Yuddhakhaṇḍa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Warns against kāma-driven multiplicity and fantasy; redirects toward ekāgratā and dharmic restraint, aiding release from pāśa (kāma/karma).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It underscores the limited, momentary nature of sensual enjoyment: even amid many attractive options, experience narrows to a single fleeting engagement—prompting discernment (viveka) and detachment (vairāgya) in the Shaiva path toward liberation.

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

By contrasting transient sense-pleasure with what truly fulfills, it indirectly points the seeker from outward fascination to steady devotion (bhakti) to Saguna Shiva—often centered on Linga worship—as a stable refuge leading toward realization of Shiva as the supreme Pati (Lord).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sense-restraint supported by Shiva-upāsanā: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and cultivating inner purity (śauca) as a counterbalance to compulsive desire.