Shloka 38

Dehāśucitā-vicāraḥ

Inquiry into the Impurity of the Body

Devanagari script

बाह्येन वायुना वास्य मोहसङ्गेन देहिनः । स्पृष्टमात्रेण घोरेण ज्वरस्समुपजायते

Transliteration

bāhyena vāyunā vāsya mohasaṅgena dehinaḥ | spṛṣṭamātreṇa ghoreṇa jvarassamupajāyate

Translation

For the embodied being, when the vital breath is disturbed by an external wind and becomes entangled with delusion, then merely by that dreadful contact, fever arises.

Word by Word

• बाह्येन: external
• बाह्येन: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (वायुना)

• वायुना: by the wind/air
• वायुना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• वास्य: to be covered/dwelt (reading uncertain)
• वास्य: Anirdishta (अनिर्दिष्ट/Unclear due to textual ambiguity)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वस् (धातु) → वास्य (कृदन्त/ण्यत्)
• Form: ण्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle: ‘to be dwelt/covered’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पदपाठे सन्दिग्धम् (पाठभेदसम्भवः)

• मोह-सङ्गेन: by the association of delusion
• मोह-सङ्गेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• देहिनः: of the embodied being
• देहिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• स्पृष्ट-मात्रेण: by mere contact
• स्पृष्ट-मात्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु) → स्पृष्ट (कृदन्त/क्त) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘केवल-स्पर्श’ इत्यर्थे

• घोरेण: terrible
• घोरेण: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (स्पृष्टमात्रेण/वायुना)

• ज्वरः: fever
• ज्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• समुपजायते: arises/comes about
• समुपजायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उप-√जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma Samhita discourse to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

It links bodily suffering (like fever) to the deeper Shaiva theme that the pashu (embodied soul) is vulnerable when prāṇa is agitated and consciousness is entangled in moha (delusion). The verse hints that inner imbalance rooted in ignorance becomes outer affliction, reinforcing the need for Shiva-oriented purification and steadiness.

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

In Shaiva Siddhanta framing, Saguna Shiva worship (Linga, mantra, and ritual purity) disciplines mind and prāṇa, weakening moha—the binding pasha. By turning attention to Shiva as Pati (the Lord), the devotee gains steadiness that counters the agitation described here.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is prāṇa-stabilizing japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with calm breathing, supported by Shaiva markers like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as aids to recollection and restraint, reducing delusion-driven agitation.