Shloka 36

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

Embryonic Condition, Bodily Transformation, and Instruction in Detachment

Devanagari script

गर्भात्सुदुर्लभं दुःखं योनियंत्रनिपीडनात् । भवेत्पापात्मनां व्यास न हि धर्मयुतात्मनाम्

Transliteration

garbhātsudurlabhaṃ duḥkhaṃ yoniyaṃtranipīḍanāt | bhavetpāpātmanāṃ vyāsa na hi dharmayutātmanām

Translation

O Vyāsa, the exceedingly hard-to-bear suffering that arises in the womb—through the crushing pressure of the womb’s constriction—befalls those of sinful disposition, not those whose inner being is joined to dharma.

Word by Word

• गर्भात्: from the womb
• गर्भात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• सु-दुर्लभम्: very hard to obtain/rare
• सु-दुर्लभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु- (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• योनि-यन्त्र-निपीडनात्: from the crushing by the womb’s mechanism
• योनि-यन्त्र-निपीडनात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक) + यन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + निपीडन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुष (yoni-yantra-nipīḍana = pressure by the womb-instrument)

• भवेत्: would occur/be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पापात्मनाम्: of sinful-souled (persons)
• पापात्मनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (पापः आत्मा यस्य)

• व्यास: O Vyāsa
• व्यास: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Avadharana (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• धर्म-युत-आत्मनाम्: of those whose souls are endowed with dharma
• धर्म-युत-आत्मनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (धर्मेण युतः आत्मा यस्य)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching within the Umāsaṃhitā discourse, addressing Vyāsa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vyasa

FAQs

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

The verse links garbha-duḥkha (womb-suffering) to karma: intense embodied pain is portrayed as a maturation of pāpa, while a dharma-aligned mind is comparatively protected—supporting the Shaiva view that bondage (pāśa) is weakened by righteous living and devotion to Pati (Shiva).

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

By emphasizing karmic consequence and dharma, the verse indirectly points to Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-pūjā) as a purifying discipline: devotion, vows, and ethical restraint reduce pāpa and stabilize the soul’s orientation toward Shiva, easing the cycle of painful rebirth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with dharmic conduct; where appropriate, wearing Rudrākṣa and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as reminders of restraint and purity—aimed at reducing pāśa and strengthening Shiva-bhakti.