Shloka 17

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

Embryonic Condition, Bodily Transformation, and Instruction in Detachment

Devanagari script

पंचरात्रेण कलिलं बुद्बुदाकारतां व्रजेत् । बुद्बुदस्सप्तरात्रेण मांसपेशी भवेत्पुनः

Transliteration

paṃcarātreṇa kalilaṃ budbudākāratāṃ vrajet | budbudassaptarātreṇa māṃsapeśī bhavetpunaḥ

Translation

Within five nights, the kalila—the embryo-like mass—takes on the form of a bubble. Then, within seven nights, that bubble again becomes a lump of flesh, a muscular mass.

Word by Word

• पञ्चरात्रेण: by/within five nights
• पञ्चरात्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (पञ्च रात्रयः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहारार्थ), तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/काल-परिमाण), एकवचन

• कलिलम्: embryonic mass, coagulum
• कलिलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• बुद्बुदाकारताम्: the state of bubble-form
• बुद्बुदाकारताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्बुद (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक) + ता (प्रत्यय)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (बुद्बुदस्य आकारः) + ता-प्रत्यय (abstract noun), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• व्रजेत्: would go/attain
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• बुद्बुदः: the bubble-like form
• बुद्बुदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्बुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• सप्तरात्रेण: by/within seven nights
• सप्तरात्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (सप्त रात्रयः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहारार्थ), तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/काल-परिमाण), एकवचन

• मांसपेशी: a lump of flesh (fleshy mass)
• मांसपेशी: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + पेशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मांसस्य पेशी), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (विधेय/कर्ता), एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पुनः: again, further
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: again/further)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

FAQs

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

It highlights the body’s gradual, fragile formation to cultivate detachment (vairagya) and discernment, directing the seeker toward Pati (Shiva) rather than identifying with perishable embodiment (pāśa).

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

By emphasizing bodily impermanence, it supports turning to Saguna Shiva and the Linga as stable objects of devotion and grace, through which the bound soul (paśu) seeks release from bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is contemplation on impermanence alongside steady japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and regular Shiva worship, using devotion to overcome bodily identification.