Shloka 20

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

Embryonic Condition, Bodily Transformation, and Instruction in Detachment

Devanagari script

मासैश्चतुर्भिरंगुल्यः प्रजायंते यथाक्रमम् । मुखं नासा च कर्णौ मासैः पंचभिरेव च

Transliteration

māsaiścaturbhiraṃgulyaḥ prajāyaṃte yathākramam | mukhaṃ nāsā ca karṇau māsaiḥ paṃcabhireva ca

Translation

In the fourth month, the fingers are formed in due order. In the fifth month, the face, the nose, and the ears are formed as well.

Word by Word

• मासैः: by/within months
• मासैः: Karana (करण/instrument; measure of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• चतुर्भिः: with four
• चतुर्भिः: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (मासैः इत्यस्य)

• अङ्गुल्यः: fingers
• अङ्गुल्यः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• प्रजायन्ते: are produced/are born
• प्रजायन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• यथा-क्रमम्: in due order
• यथा-क्रमम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्यय (adverb)

• मुखम्: mouth
• मुखम्: Karta (कर्ता/subject; ellipsis of verb)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• नासा: nose
• नासा: Karta (कर्ता/subject; ellipsis of verb)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• कर्णौ: two ears
• कर्णौ: Karta (कर्ता/subject; ellipsis of verb)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन

• मासैः: by/within months
• मासैः: Karana (करण/instrument; measure of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• पञ्चभिः: with five
• पञ्चभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (मासैः इत्यस्य)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

By detailing how the body forms month by month, the Purana highlights the embodied condition of the Paśu (individual soul) under Pāśa (karmic limitation), urging discernment and turning toward Pati—Lord Shiva—as the liberator.

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

The verse underscores that the body is a constructed, temporary instrument; Linga/Saguna Shiva worship redirects the seeker from identification with bodily formation to devotion to Shiva, the enduring Pati beyond birth and change.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with contemplation on impermanence of the body and reliance on Shiva for freedom from karmic bondage.