Shloka 23

Devanagari script

नारी शय्या तथा पानं वस्त्रधूपविलेपनम् । ताम्बूलभक्षणं पंच राजैश्वर्य्यविभूतयः

Transliteration

nārī śayyā tathā pānaṃ vastradhūpavilepanam | tāmbūlabhakṣaṇaṃ paṃca rājaiśvaryyavibhūtayaḥ

Translation

Womanly companionship, a bed, intoxicating drink, fine garments, incense and unguents, and the chewing of betel—these five are declared to be the enjoyments of royal prosperity and worldly magnificence.

Word by Word

• nārī: woman
• nārī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śayyā: bed
• śayyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śayyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/connector (तथार्थक/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय)

• pānam: drinking
• pānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vastra-dhūpa-vilepanam: clothes, incense, and unguent (collectively)
• vastra-dhūpa-vilepanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक) + dhūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + vilepana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समाहार-द्वन्द्वः ‘वस्त्रं च धूपः च विलेपनं च’

• tāmbūla-bhakṣaṇam: chewing betel
• tāmbūla-bhakṣaṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāmbūla (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः ‘ताम्बूलस्य भक्षणम्’

• paṃca: five
• paṃca: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective (संख्यावाचक), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural sense; counts the listed items

• rāja-aiśvarya-vibhūtayaḥ: royal prosperities/splendors
• rāja-aiśvarya-vibhūtayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhūti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘राज्ञः ऐश्वर्यस्य विभूतयः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Serves as a didactic contrast: royal bhoga is portrayed as a binding force; pilgrimage/worship is implied as the counter-practice that turns the mind from bhoga to bhakti.

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies classic symbols of rājasic worldly enjoyment (bhoga) that bind the soul (paśu) through attachment, implying that true Shaiva progress favors restraint, discrimination, and devotion to Pati (Shiva) over fascination with royal opulence.

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

Linga-worship redirects attention from sensory pleasures to the sacred presence of Saguna Shiva, training the mind to offer desire itself into worship and to seek Shiva’s grace rather than rājaiśvarya as the highest aim.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a spirit of vairāgya, and adopt simple Shaiva disciplines—clean living, restraint, and offering incense and unguents to Shiva as worship rather than as fuel for indulgence.