Shloka 1

Garbha-sthiti, Deha-pariṇāma, and Vairāgya-upadeśa

Embryonic Condition, Bodily Transformation, and Instruction in Detachment

Devanagari script

व्यास उवाच । विधिं तात वदेदानीं जीव जन्मविधानतः । गर्भे स्थितिं च तस्यापि वैराग्यार्थं मुनीश्वर

Transliteration

vyāsa uvāca | vidhiṃ tāta vadedānīṃ jīva janmavidhānataḥ | garbhe sthitiṃ ca tasyāpi vairāgyārthaṃ munīśvara

Translation

Vyāsa said: “O dear one, O lord among sages, now please explain the rule and process by which the jīva, the individual soul, takes birth, and also describe its condition while dwelling in the womb—so that vairāgya, dispassion, may arise.”

Word by Word

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• विधिम्: the rule, procedure
• विधिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तात: dear one, son
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• वदेत्: should tell
• वदेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अदानीम्: now
• अदानीम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अदानीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• जीव: O Jīva (living being)
• जीव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• जन्म-विधानतः: according to the ordinance of birth
• जन्म-विधानतः: Hetu/Pramāṇa (हेतु/प्रमाण/According to)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विधान (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘जन्मस्य विधानम्’); तस्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) = ‘according to/with reference to’

• गर्भे: in the womb
• गर्भे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• स्थितिम्: the state/condition
• स्थितिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तस्य: of that (being)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/सम्भावनार्थक अव्यय (also/even)

• वैराग्य-अर्थम्: for the purpose of dispassion
• वैराग्य-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष/प्रयोजन-तत्पुरुष (‘वैराग्याय अर्थः’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मुनीश्वर: O lord of sages
• मुनीश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (‘मुनीनां ईश्वरः’); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Vyasa

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Contemplation on embodiment and womb-suffering is used to generate vairāgya, preparing the bound soul (paśu) for Śiva’s liberating grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Jiva

FAQs

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

It frames a contemplative teaching: by understanding the jīva’s constrained, dependent state from conception onward, one develops vairāgya and turns toward Pati (Śiva) as the liberator from pāśa (bondage).

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

The verse prepares the seeker for devotion and surrender by highlighting embodied limitation. In Shaiva Siddhanta, realizing oneself as pashu (bound soul) naturally leads to seeking grace through Saguna Śiva—often approached through Liṅga worship, mantra, and disciplined living.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily vairāgya-bhāvanā (reflection on embodiment and impermanence) alongside Shiva-upāsanā such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady dhyāna on Śiva as Pati who cuts the bonds of birth.