Shloka 25

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

Embryonic Condition, Bodily Transformation, and Instruction in Detachment

Devanagari script

ततस्मृतिं लभेज्जीवस्संपूर्णेऽस्मिञ्शरीरके । सुखं दुःखं विजानाति निद्रास्वप्नं पुराकृतम्

Transliteration

tatasmṛtiṃ labhejjīvassaṃpūrṇe'smiñśarīrake | sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ vijānāti nidrāsvapnaṃ purākṛtam

Translation

Then the jīva, fully established in this body, regains memory; and it comes to know pleasure and pain, as well as sleep and dream—experiences fashioned by its former deeds (karma).

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Time marker (काल/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तस्मात्-अर्थ (from then/thereafter)

• स्मृतिम्: memory
• स्मृतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• जीवः: the living being
• जीवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संपूर्णे: when complete
• संपूर्णे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative condition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; ‘पूर्ण’ विशेषण

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शरीरके: in the body
• शरीरके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दुःखम्: sorrow
• दुःखम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विजानाति: knows, perceives
• विजानाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• निद्रास्वप्नम्: sleep and dream
• निद्रास्वप्नम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा-स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक; निद्रा + स्वप्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (निद्रा च स्वप्नश्च)

• पुराकृतम्: done previously; former
• पुराकृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरा-कृत (कृदन्त; कृ धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास (पुरा = formerly + कृत = done)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

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 explains that the jīva’s ordinary experiences—pleasure, pain, sleep, and dream—arise within embodiment and are shaped by prior karma, indicating the soul’s bondage (pāśa) and the need for Shiva’s grace to transcend it.

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

By showing that worldly cognition is karma-conditioned, the verse supports turning the mind toward Saguna Shiva through Linga worship, so that karma-bound impressions are purified and the jīva is led toward Shiva-realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady dhyāna to purify karmic impressions that color waking and dream, supported by Shaiva disciplines such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrāksha where prescribed.