Shloka 36

Dehāśucitā-vicāraḥ

Inquiry into the Impurity of the Body

Devanagari script

बहवोपीह राजानः परं लोक मितो गताः । निर्ममत्वसमेतास्तु बद्धाश्शतसहस्रशः

Transliteration

bahavopīha rājānaḥ paraṃ loka mito gatāḥ | nirmamatvasametāstu baddhāśśatasahasraśaḥ

Translation

Here, many kings too have departed to the higher worlds; yet—even though endowed with detachment, free from possessiveness—they remain bound, in hundreds of thousands.

Word by Word

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (राजानः)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/concessive)

• इह: here (in this world)
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• राजानः: kings
• राजानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• परम्: highest/other
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (लोकम्)

• लोकम्: world/realm
• लोकम्: Karma (कर्म/Goal as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इतः: from here
• इतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादानार्थक-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: ‘from here’)

• गताः: have gone
• गताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि ‘gone’

• निर्ममत्व-समेताः: endowed with non-attachment
• निर्ममत्व-समेताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्ममत्व (प्रातिपदिक; निर्+ममत्व) + समेत (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (राजानः); ‘समेत’ = ‘endowed with’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (adversative/contrast)

• बद्धाः: bound
• बद्धाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु) → बद्ध (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (ते)

• शत-सहस्रशः: by hundreds of thousands
• शत-सहस्रशः: Avyaya (अव्यय/Measure)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शस् (तद्धित-अव्ययार्थ)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-द्विगु-समास + शस्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (distributive adverb)

Speaker

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

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga-sthala episode; the verse functions as a doctrinal illustration: even exalted worldly sovereignty and post-mortem ascent to higher lokas do not equal mokṣa without Śiva’s anugraha and removal of pāśa.

Significance: Teaches vairāgya’s insufficiency when subtle bondage persists; motivates seeking Śiva-dīkṣā/śaraṇāgati rather than relying on merit and heavenly ascent.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It warns that reaching higher lokas and even cultivating detachment do not automatically end bondage; true liberation requires the cutting of pāśa (karmic and subtle fetters) through right knowledge, devotion, and Shiva’s grace.

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

It implies that worldly status and posthumous heavenly attainments are still within bondage; worship of Saguna Shiva as the Linga focuses the mind on Pati (the Lord) who alone can release the pashu (soul) from pāśa, culminating in liberation rather than mere higher rebirth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady Shiva-upāsanā—daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Linga worship—so detachment becomes God-centered and leads toward release from bondage, not merely to higher lokas.