Shloka 31

Dehāśucitā-vicāraḥ

Inquiry into the Impurity of the Body

Devanagari script

एवमेतच्छरीरं हि निसर्गादशुचि स्मृतम् । त्वङ्मात्रसारं निःसारं कदलीसारसन्निभम्

Transliteration

evametaccharīraṃ hi nisargādaśuci smṛtam | tvaṅmātrasāraṃ niḥsāraṃ kadalīsārasannibham

Translation

Thus, this body is said to be impure by its very nature. It has only skin as its seeming ‘essence’, is truly without real substance, and is comparable to the pith of a banana plant.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: प्रकार (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: विशेषण (of शरीरम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (शरीरम्)

• शरीरम्: body
• शरीरम्: कर्म/विषय (Topic/object in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• निसर्गात्: by nature / from natural constitution
• निसर्गात्: अपादान/हेतु (Source/Cause/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (ablative of cause/origin)

• अशुचि: impure
• अशुचि: विशेषण (of शरीरम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थक (impure)

• स्मृतम्: is regarded (as)
• स्मृतम्: क्रिया (Predicative verbal notion)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृत (कृदन्त; स्मृ धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे—'is considered/remembered as'

• त्वक्: of skin
• त्वक्: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (त्वचः)

• मात्र: mere/only
• मात्र: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (only/merely)

• सारम्: having only skin as its essence
• सारम्: विशेषण (of शरीरम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (त्वचः मात्रस्य सारम्)

• निःसारम्: without essence
• निःसारम्: विशेषण (of शरीरम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-विशेषण (essenceless)

• कदली: of banana plant
• कदली: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• सार: pith/essence
• सार: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• सन्निभम्: resembling banana pith
• सन्निभम्: विशेषण (of शरीरम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कदलीसारस्य सन्निभम्)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This verse is part of a vairāgya/ātma-vicāra teaching rather than a specific Jyotirliṅga māhātmya; it supports the pilgrim’s inner purification (antaḥśuddhi) that makes any kṣetra fruitful.

Significance: Cultivates deha-vairāgya (dispassion toward the body), a prerequisite for Śiva-jñāna and for receiving anugraha in Śaiva Siddhānta.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It cultivates vairagya by exposing the body’s inherent impurity and insubstantiality, directing the seeker to identify with the pure Self and seek Shiva (Pati) rather than clinging to the perishable body (a form of pasha).

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

By devaluing bodily identity, the verse turns devotion inward: worship of the Shiva Linga (Saguna Shiva as a sacred support) becomes a means to transcend attachment and realize Shiva’s purifying grace beyond the body.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice body-detachment contemplation during japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and reinforce purity through Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and regular Shiva-puja as reminders of impermanence and liberation.