Shloka 47

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

Embryonic Condition, Bodily Transformation, and Instruction in Detachment

Devanagari script

पित्तस्य कुडवं ज्ञेयं कफस्याथाढकं स्मृतम् । वसायाश्च पलं विंशत्तदर्धं कपिलस्य च

Transliteration

pittasya kuḍavaṃ jñeyaṃ kaphasyāthāḍhakaṃ smṛtam | vasāyāśca palaṃ viṃśattadardhaṃ kapilasya ca

Translation

One should know the measure of bile (pitta) to be a kuḍava; and the measure of phlegm (kapha) is remembered as an āḍhaka. The fat (vasā) is twenty palas; and half of that is (the measure) for the tawny one (kapila).

Word by Word

• पित्तस्य: of bile
• पित्तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचनम्

• कुडवम्: a kuḍava measure
• कुडवम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुडव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्; परिमाण-शब्दः

• ज्ञेयम्: should be known
• ज्ञेयम्: विधेय (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विधिलिङ्गार्थक-कर्तव्यता (gerundive/तव्यत्-भावः; -एय) ; नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘ज्ञेयम्’ = ‘ज्ञातव्यम्’

• कफस्य: of phlegm
• कफस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कफ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Discourse marker/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अनुक्रम/आरम्भ-बोधकः (then/now)

• आढकम्: an āḍhaka measure
• आढकम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आढक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; परिमाण-शब्दः

• स्मृतम्: is remembered/considered
• स्मृतम्: विधेय (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘(इति) स्मृतम्’

• वसायाः: of fat
• वसायाः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय-बोधकः

• पलम्: a pala measure
• पलम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; परिमाण-शब्दः

• विंशत्: twenty
• विंशत्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विंशति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याशब्दः; नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘पलम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (twenty [palas])

• तत्-अर्धम्: half of that
• तत्-अर्धम्: विधेय/कर्म (Predicative/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: तस्य अर्धम्) । नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• कपिलस्य: of a tawny/brown (animal)
• कपिलस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय-बोधकः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: No jyotirliṅga linkage; humoral measures (pitta/kapha/vasā) emphasize the body as a māyā-made composite, reinforcing the pāśa-framework of embodiment.

Significance: Promotes non-attachment and disciplined living; supports the Siddhānta view that liberation is not by perfecting the body but by Śiva-jñāna and anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It emphasizes precision and discipline in observance—outer exactness in measures mirrors inner exactness in sādhanā, supporting purity (śauca) and steadiness that aid devotion to Pati (Shiva) and liberation.

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

In Linga-worship, correct ritual procedure and purity are repeatedly praised; this verse reflects the Purāṇic insistence that devotional acts to Saguna Shiva be performed with careful adherence to prescribed standards.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined observance (niyama): follow traditional injunctions precisely during Shiva worship—especially on Mahāśivarātri—along with mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and purity practices where applicable.