Shloka 16

Dehāśucitā-vicāraḥ

Inquiry into the Impurity of the Body

Devanagari script

सर्वस्यैव जगन्मध्ये देह एवाशुचिर्भवेत् । तन्मलावयवस्पर्शाच्छुचिरप्यशुचिर्भवेत्

Transliteration

sarvasyaiva jaganmadhye deha evāśucirbhavet | tanmalāvayavasparśācchucirapyaśucirbhavet

Translation

In this world, for everyone, the body alone is truly impure. By contact with the body’s filthy parts and secretions, even one who is otherwise pure becomes impure.

Word by Word

• सर्वस्य: of all
• सर्वस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• जगत्: of the world
• जगत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (जगतः)

• मध्ये: in the midst
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• देहः: the body
• देहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एव: alone/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• अशुचिः: impure
• अशुचिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of देहः)

• भवेत्: would be / becomes
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्: of that (body)
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (तस्य); समास-पूर्वपदत्वेन (in compound)

• मल: filth
• मल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समास-पूर्वपदत्वेन

• अवयव: limbs/parts
• अवयव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवयव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समास-पूर्वपदत्वेन

• स्पर्शात्: from contact (with)
• स्पर्शात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तन्मलावयवानां स्पर्शः)

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेष्यः (implicit: जनः/वस्तु)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवाद-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• अशुचिः: impure
• अशुचिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Umā/Parvati in Umāsaṃhitā’s philosophical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It turns the seeker inward: bodily cleanliness is secondary, while true śauca is recognizing the body’s inherent impurity and seeking purification through devotion, knowledge, and dispassion toward Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga-worship emphasizes sanctity that is not body-based: by approaching Shiva with disciplined conduct and inner purity, the devotee transcends fixation on the body and aligns with Shiva’s purifying presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain external cleanliness while prioritizing inner purification through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), meditation on Shiva, and sattvic discipline that reduces bodily identification.