Shloka 43

पिप्पलादावतारकथनम्

Account of the Pippalāda Avatāra

Devanagari script

ततः स्वाभीष्टचरणन्देवि कर्तुन्त्वमर्हसि । सगर्भा न दहेद्गात्रमिति ब्रह्मनिदेशनम्

Transliteration

tataḥ svābhīṣṭacaraṇandevi kartuntvamarhasi | sagarbhā na dahedgātramiti brahmanideśanam

Translation

Thereafter, O Goddess, you may do what is dear to you. Yet this is Brahmā’s instruction: a pregnant woman should not burn her body.

Word by Word

• ततः: therefore, then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb); अर्थः: ‘therefore/then’

• स्व-अभीष्ट-चरणम्: your desired act/step (desired course)
• स्व-अभीष्ट-चरणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + अभीष्ट (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः (determinative): स्वस्य अभीष्टं चरणम्

• देवि: O देवी
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive): ‘to do’

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अर्हसि: are fit/ought
• अर्हसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• स-गर्भा: pregnant
• स-गर्भा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + गर्भा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) of (implicit) स्त्री/देवी

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negative particle)

• दहेत्: should burn
• दहेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• गात्रम्: body, limb
• गात्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• इति: thus
• इति: Vakyartha-marker (वाक्यार्थ-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्ति-सूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ब्रह्म-निदेशनम्: Brahmā’s instruction
• ब्रह्म-निदेशनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + निदेशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ब्रह्मणः निदेशनम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the instruction attributed to Brahma)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Devi

FAQs

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

It upholds dharma as a safeguard even amid strong emotion or vows: the body is to be protected—especially when sustaining new life—so that righteous living and devotion to Shiva can continue without harm.

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

It implies that true Saguna Shiva worship is not self-destructive; devotion is guided by scriptural restraint (niyama). Protecting life and the body aligns with Shiva’s compassionate order (dharma) rather than impulsive austerity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is moderation in vows and tapas: choose non-harmful devotion—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), gentle fasting within capacity, and sattvic worship—avoiding practices that injure the body.