Shloka 48

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

Embryonic Condition, Bodily Transformation, and Instruction in Detachment

Devanagari script

पंचार्द्धं तु तुला ज्ञेया पलानि दश मेदसः । पलत्रयं महारक्तं मज्जायाश्च चतुर्गुणम्

Transliteration

paṃcārddhaṃ tu tulā jñeyā palāni daśa medasaḥ | palatrayaṃ mahāraktaṃ majjāyāśca caturguṇam

Translation

Know that the measure called tulā is five arddhas; fat is ten palas; the great blood is three palas; and marrow is four times that.

Word by Word

• पञ्चार्धम्: two and a half (five halves)
• पञ्चार्धम्: Pramana (प्रमाण/Measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्च + अर्धम् = ‘five halves’ = 2.5)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• तुला: a tulā (weight unit)
• तुला: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ज्ञेया: is to be known/considered
• ज्ञेया: Vidhi (विधि/Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘ज्ञातव्या’ = should be known/considered

• पलानि: palas (weight units)
• पलानि: Pramana (प्रमाण/Measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (विशेषण/Quantifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (agreeing with पलानि)

• मेदसः: of fat
• मेदसः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• पलत्रयम्: three palas
• पलत्रयम्: Pramana (प्रमाण/Measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयः पलाः)

• महारक्तम्: a large amount of blood
• महारक्तम्: Prameya (प्रमेय/Measured substance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महद् रक्तम्)

• मज्जायाः: of marrow
• मज्जायाः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मज्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• चतुर्गुणम्: fourfold
• चतुर्गुणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चतुर्भिः गुणैः युक्तम् = fourfold)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, rule-based observance (vidhi) in sacred acts—outer precision supporting inner purity—so the devotee’s worship becomes aligned with dharma and fit for Shiva’s grace.

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

Such proportional instructions commonly support correct preparation of materials used in temple or household worship; in Saguna Shiva devotion, careful adherence to prescribed measures is treated as reverence toward the Linga and the ritual order established by Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to follow traditional proportions and purity rules when preparing offerings or ritual substances; the meditative counterpart is cultivating steadiness (niyama) and attentiveness during Shiva-puja.