Shloka 23

Arjuna’s Mantra-Empowerment and the Pāṇḍavas’ Separation (Śiva-rūpa through Mantra)

Devanagari script

कौमारेऽपि महादुःखं बाललीलानुसारि यत् । ततोपि यौवने कामान्भुन्जानो दुःखरूपिणः

Transliteration

kaumāre'pi mahāduḥkhaṃ bālalīlānusāri yat | tatopi yauvane kāmānbhunjāno duḥkharūpiṇaḥ

Translation

Even in childhood there is great sorrow, trailing behind childish play; and more than that, in youth one “enjoys” sense-pleasures that are, in truth, forms of suffering.

Word by Word

• कौमारे: in childhood
• कौमारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of time)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), अपि = even/also

• महा-दुःखम्: great suffering
• महा-दुःखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेष्य-विशेषणसमास (great + sorrow)

• बाल-लीला-अनुसारि: following childish play
• बाल-लीला-अनुसारि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाल + लीला + अनुसारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'यत्/दुःखम्'): 'following childish play'

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• ततः: than that / from that
• ततः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/ततः = from that/than that (ablatival adverb)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• यौवने: in youth
• यौवने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यौवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of time)

• कामान्: desires/pleasures
• कामान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; कर्म (object)

• भुञ्जानः: enjoying
• भुञ्जानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग (one who is enjoying)

• दुःख-रूपिणः: of the nature of suffering
• दुःख-रूपिणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (to implied subject): 'having the form of suffering'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It cultivates vairāgya by exposing that worldly stages—childhood play and youthful indulgence—carry inherent duḥkha, urging the seeker to turn toward Shiva (Pati) as the liberator from pāśa (bondage).

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

By showing the inadequacy of sensory ‘enjoyment,’ the verse supports taking refuge in Saguna Shiva through Linga-worship, where desire is redirected into bhakti and purified into steadiness of mind.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a disciplined, restrained life; support it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders to transcend kama and abide in Shiva-consciousness.