Shloka 40

Dehāśucitā-vicāraḥ

Inquiry into the Impurity of the Body

Devanagari script

स्मृतिभ्रंशात्ततस्तस्य स्मृतिर्न्नोऽपूर्वकर्मणः । रतिः संजायते तूर्णं जन्तोस्तत्रैव जन्मनि

Transliteration

smṛtibhraṃśāttatastasya smṛtirnno'pūrvakarmaṇaḥ | ratiḥ saṃjāyate tūrṇaṃ jantostatraiva janmani

Translation

Then, due to the loss of memory, that being’s recollection does not arise regarding deeds performed in former lives. Yet, in that very birth, desire and attachment quickly spring up within the embodied soul.

Word by Word

• स्मृतिभ्रंशात्: from (the) loss of memory
• स्मृतिभ्रंशात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक) + भ्रंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्मृतेः भ्रंशः), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• ततः: then / thereafter
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/हेतु-वाचक-अव्यय (Adverb: then/from that)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्मृतिः: memory
• स्मृतिः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (Negation particle)

• उ: indeed / even
• उ: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उ (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (Particle; emphasis)

• अपूर्वकर्मणः: of (his) former/previous deeds
• अपूर्वकर्मणः: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (Adjectival: अपूर्वं कर्म), ततः षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक 'कर्मन्' (neuter)

• रतिः: attachment / desire
• रतिः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• संजायते: arises
• संजायते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• तूर्णम्: swiftly
• तूर्णम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (Adverb)

• जन्तोः: of the creature/person
• जन्तोः: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative setting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-वाचक-अव्यय (Locative adverb: there)

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (Emphatic particle)

• जन्मनि: in (that) birth
• जन्मनि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it concludes the psychological mechanism of bondage: forgetfulness of pūrva-karman enables immediate rise of rati in the present birth—classic paśu under pāśa (māyā/karma) functioning through tirodhāna.

Significance: Directs the aspirant to seek Śiva’s anugraha to break the cycle: without restored jñāna and purification of malas, rati reasserts itself even after suffering.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights a key mark of saṁsāra: the jīva forgets its past karmas due to smṛti-bhraṁśa, yet rapidly develops rati (attachment), strengthening pāśa (bondage) until it turns to Pati—Lord Shiva—for liberation.

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

Because the mind quickly falls into attachment, Shiva Purana emphasizes steadying remembrance through Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—which reorients the jīva from fleeting rati toward enduring devotion and spiritual clarity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with disciplined worship (pujā/dhyāna) to counter forgetfulness and attachment by cultivating constant smaraṇa (remembrance) of Shiva.