Shloka 30

Dehāśucitā-vicāraḥ

Inquiry into the Impurity of the Body

Devanagari script

ज्ञानामलांभसा पुंसां सद्वैराग्यमृदा पुनः । अविद्यारागविण्मूत्रलेपगंधविशोधनम्

Transliteration

jñānāmalāṃbhasā puṃsāṃ sadvairāgyamṛdā punaḥ | avidyārāgaviṇmūtralepagaṃdhaviśodhanam

Translation

For embodied beings, the pure water of true knowledge and, again, the cleansing earth of steadfast dispassion wash away the foul stains and stench—ignorance and attachment—like filth and urine clinging to the body.

Word by Word

• ज्ञान-अमल-अम्भसा: by the water of stainless knowledge
• ज्ञान-अमल-अम्भसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान + अमल + अम्भस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by the water that is the pure knowledge)

• पुंसाम्: of men/of people
• पुंसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्/पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• सत्-वैराग्य-मृदा: by the clay of true dispassion
• सत्-वैराग्य-मृदा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् + वैराग्य + मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by the earth/clay of true dispassion)

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अविद्या-राग-विण्-मूत्र-लेप-गन्ध-विशोधनम्: a purifier of the stench of the smear of ignorance, attachment, feces and urine
• अविद्या-राग-विण्-मूत्र-लेप-गन्ध-विशोधनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविद्या + राग + विण् + मूत्र + लेप + गन्ध + विशोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom./Acc. singular (contextually predicate noun: 'is a purifier')

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation-oriented purity is primarily internal: jñāna (true insight into Shiva and the self) and vairāgya (non-attachment) cleanse the soul of the binding impurities of avidyā and rāga, which are compared to physical defilement.

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

Linga worship and Saguna Shiva devotion are meant to mature into inner transformation—knowledge and dispassion. The verse frames external purity as incomplete unless devotion ripens into jñāna and vairāgya that remove the subtle bonds (pāśa).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily Shiva-upāsanā (japa of the Panchākṣarī, contemplation on Shiva as Pati) together with self-inquiry and restraint: cultivate vairāgya by reducing cravings and meditate on the impermanence of sense-objects to weaken rāga.