Shloka 33

Devanagari script

शीर्णपर्णाशनैर्धीरः षण्मासं सम्बभूव सः । षण्मासं वायुभक्षोऽभूत्षण्मासं जल बिन्दुभुक्

Transliteration

śīrṇaparṇāśanairdhīraḥ ṣaṇmāsaṃ sambabhūva saḥ | ṣaṇmāsaṃ vāyubhakṣo'bhūtṣaṇmāsaṃ jala bindubhuk

Translation

Steadfast and self-controlled, he lived for six months subsisting on dry fallen leaves; for six months he lived feeding only on air; and for six months he sustained himself merely on drops of water.

Word by Word

• शीर्णपर्णाशनैः: by (subsisting on) fallen leaves as food
• शीर्णपर्णाशनैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीर्ण (कृदन्त; √शॄ) + पर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समास: शीर्णपर्णाशन = शीर्णानि पर्णानि आशनम् (eating fallen leaves)

• धीरः: the steadfast one
• धीरः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• षण्मासम्: for six months
• षण्मासम्: कालावधि (Kāla-avadhi)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण् (प्रातिपदिक) + मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कालावधि/Accusative of duration), एकवचन; द्विगु: षण् मासाः

• सम्बभूव: became / remained
• सम्बभूव: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; √भू (to become) उपसर्ग: सम्

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• षण्मासम्: for six months
• षण्मासम्: कालावधि (Kāla-avadhi)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण् (प्रातिपदिक) + मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कालावधि), एकवचन

• वायुभक्षः: air-eating (living on air)
• वायुभक्षः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: वायुः भक्ष्यः यस्य (one who feeds on air)

• अभूत्: became
• अभूत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• षण्मासम्: for six months
• षण्मासम्: कालावधि (Kāla-avadhi)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण् (प्रातिपदिक) + मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कालावधि), एकवचन

• जल: of water
• जल: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (in bindubhuk)

• बिन्दुभुक्: drop-sipper (living on drops)
• बिन्दुभुक्: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कृदन्त: बिन्दुं भुङ्क्ते इति (one who eats/drinks drops)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Extreme tapas (leaf-eating, then air-only, then water-drops) dramatizes the paśu’s struggle under pāśa and the gradual thinning of bodily identification; in Siddhānta idiom this supports mala-kṣaya and readiness for anugraha, though the verse itself foregrounds ascetic concealment/withdrawal (tirodhāna) from sense-life.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights graded tapas—reducing dependence on food and sense-pleasures—to purify the pashu (bound soul) and make the mind fit for Shiva’s grace and realization of Pati.

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

Such austerity is presented as preparation for Saguna Shiva-upasana—steadying the body and mind so devotion, mantra-japa, and Linga-focused worship become unwavering and fruitful.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined restraint with regular Shiva-mantra japa (especially the Panchakshara), supported by simple living and purity practices like Tripundra (bhasma) and focused meditation.