Shloka 40

पिप्पलादावतारकथनम्

Account of the Pippalāda Avatāra

Devanagari script

अनुगन्तुम्पतेर्लोकमथेच्छत्सा पतिव्रता । चितां चक्र समेधोभिः सुपवित्रैर्मनस्विनी

Transliteration

anugantumpaterlokamathecchatsā pativratā | citāṃ cakra samedhobhiḥ supavitrairmanasvinī

Translation

Wishing then to follow her husband to his world, that devoted and faithful wife—steadfast in mind—prepared a funeral pyre with well-sanctified sacrificial sticks.

Word by Word

• अनुगन्तुम्: to follow
• अनुगन्तुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-गम् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive/तुमन्त), क्रियार्थ (purpose: to follow)

• पतेः: of (her) husband
• पतेः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• लोकम्: the world (realm)
• लोकम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• इच्छत्: wishing
• इच्छत्: कर्ता (Karta; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचन ‘इच्छन्ती’ अपेक्ष्यते; अत्र सन्ध्यन्तरितं ‘इच्छत्’ (stem)

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• पतिव्रता: the devoted wife
• पतिव्रता: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक; पति + व्रत)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; (पतिव्रता = devoted to husband)

• चिताम्: a funeral pyre
• चिताम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• चक्र: made
• चक्र: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• समेधोभिः: with fuel-sticks
• समेधोभिः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समिध् (प्रातिपदिक; समिध्/समिधा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• सुपवित्रैः: very pure
• सुपवित्रैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक; सु + पवित्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (instrumental plural form), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying समेधोभिः)

• मनस्विनी: the resolute-minded woman
• मनस्विनी: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (as epithet of सा)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights steadfast resolve (dṛḍha-niścaya) and dharma: the wife’s intention to accompany her husband signifies intense fidelity and the power of single-pointed commitment, presented within the Purāṇic ethic of sacred duty.

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

Though the verse describes funeral preparation, the Shatarudra narrative frames human dharma under the sovereignty of Saguna Shiva as Pati (Lord). All rites and life-transitions are ultimately situated in Shiva’s cosmic order and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The emphasis is on purity and sanctification of materials (supavitra)—a takeaway for Shaiva practice is to perform rites with śuddhi (inner and outer purity), supported by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as a stabilizing remembrance at life’s thresholds.