Shloka 38

Devanagari script

दुर्वासा उवाच । मां निमन्त्र्य नृपाभोज्य जलं पीतन्त्वयाधम । दर्शयामि फलं तस्य दुष्टदण्डधरो ह्यहम्

Transliteration

durvāsā uvāca | māṃ nimantrya nṛpābhojya jalaṃ pītantvayādhama | darśayāmi phalaṃ tasya duṣṭadaṇḍadharo hyaham

Translation

Durvāsā said: “O vile one! After inviting me, you have drunk the water meant for the king’s offering. Now I shall show you the fruit of that deed—for I am indeed the bearer of punishment for the wicked.”

Word by Word

• दुर्वासाः: Durvāsā (the sage)
• दुर्वासाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्वासस्/दुर्वासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sing.)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sing.)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (sing.)

• निमन्त्र्य: having invited
• निमन्त्र्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having invited’; उपसर्ग: नि-

• नृप-आभोज्य: O king, fit to be fed/hosted (O host)
• नृप-आभोज्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + आभोज्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘नृपस्य आभोज्यः’), पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (sing.)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut.), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (sing.)

• पीतम्: drunk
• पीतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut.), द्वितीया (2nd/Acc.), एकवचन (sing.); कर्मविशेषणम् of जलम्

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (sing.)

• अधम: O wretch, O vile one
• अधम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (sing.)

• दर्शयामि: I will show
• दर्शयामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (sing.); णिच् (causative) प्रयोग: ‘cause to see/show’

• फलम्: result, fruit
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut.), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (sing.)

• तस्य: of that (act)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (masc./neut.), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (sing.)

• दुष्ट-दण्ड-धरः: one who bears a harsh staff (punisher)
• दुष्ट-दण्ड-धरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष sense: ‘दुष्टः दण्डः’ + ‘दण्डं धरति’), पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (1st/Nom.), एकवचन (sing.)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) हेतौ/निश्चये (indeed/for)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sing.)

Speaker

Sage Durvasa

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Durvasa

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes karma-phala: disrespecting a holy guest and misusing what is meant for a sacred offering brings immediate spiritual demerit, reinforcing humility and dharma as prerequisites for Shaiva grace.

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

In Shaiva practice, outer worship (upachara) must be supported by inner purity and reverence; insulting a rishi after inviting him contradicts the spirit of Linga-worship, where Shiva is honored through discipline, respect, and right conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is atithi-seva (reverent hospitality) and restraint: before puja, maintain purity of conduct and speech; accompany worship with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as an act of inner correction and humility.