Shloka 50

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

Embryonic Condition, Bodily Transformation, and Instruction in Detachment

Devanagari script

रक्तं पलशतं ज्ञेयं विण्मूत्रं यत्प्रमाणत । अंजलयश्च चत्वारश्चत्वारो मुनिसत्तम

Transliteration

raktaṃ palaśataṃ jñeyaṃ viṇmūtraṃ yatpramāṇata | aṃjalayaśca catvāraścatvāro munisattama

Translation

O best of sages, know that the measure of blood is said to be one hundred palas; and the quantity of feces and urine, by standard measure, is four añjalis (handfuls).

Word by Word

• रक्तम्: blood
• रक्तम्: Prameya (प्रमेय/Measured substance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पलशतम्: a hundred palas
• पलशतम्: Pramana (प्रमाण/Measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (शतं पलानि)

• ज्ञेयम्: is to be known/considered
• ज्ञेयम्: Vidhi (विधि/Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विण्मूत्रम्: feces and urine
• विण्मूत्रम्: Prameya (प्रमेय/Measured substance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विट्/विण् + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (विण् + मूत्रम् = feces and urine)

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• प्रमाणतः: according to the measure
• प्रमाणतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) = ‘प्रमाणेन/प्रमाणतः’ (according to measure)

• अञ्जलयः: añjalis (handful measures)
• अञ्जलयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

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

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Quantifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक (agreeing with अञ्जलयः)

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Quantifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक (repeated for emphasis/parallelism)

• मुनिसत्तम: O best of sages
• मुनिसत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मुनीनां सत्तमः)

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 teaches disciplined awareness of the body’s material measures, supporting purity and self-control—foundational virtues for a seeker devoted to Pati (Shiva) while loosening bondage (pāśa) through regulated living.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana emphasizes inner and outer śauca (purity). By defining bodily quantities and standards, the text supports orderly observance of vrata and pūjā, making worship steady and reverent toward Saguna Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain bodily cleanliness and moderation during vratas (fasts/observances), and pair it with simple Shaiva practice such as japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and mindful regulation of diet and habits.