Shloka 43

Devanagari script

समे पथि शनैर्गच्छन् स्खलतीव पदेपदे । सत्यां बुद्धौ न जानाति बोध्यमानो बुधैरपि

Transliteration

same pathi śanairgacchan skhalatīva padepade | satyāṃ buddhau na jānāti bodhyamāno budhairapi

Translation

Even while moving slowly on an even path, he stumbles as though at every step; and even when instructed by the wise, he does not recognize the truth, because his understanding is not established in right discernment.

Word by Word

• same: on level/even
• same: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (पथि-विशेषण)

• pathi: on the path
• pathi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pathin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śanaiḥ: slowly
• śanaiḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śanaiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: slowly)

• gacchan: walking/going
• gacchan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु) + śatṛ (कृत्)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण

• skhalati: stumbles
• skhalati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √skhal (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• iva: as if
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक-अव्यय

• pade: at (each) step
• pade: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगे (reduplicated locative)

• pade: at every step
• pade: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (pade-pade)

• satyām: though present
• satyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• buddhau: in the intellect
• buddhau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी-सम्बद्ध

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• jānāti: knows
• jānāti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• bodhyamānaḥ: being taught/instructed
• bodhyamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √budh (धातु) + ya (णिच्-न) + māna (कृत्)
• Form: कर्मणि-प्रयोगे वर्तमान-कृदन्त (passive present participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण (being instructed)

• budhaiḥ: by the wise
• budhaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-कारक (even)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (inferred philosophical instruction within Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer conditions may be favorable, yet without steady, truth-aligned intellect (buddhi), a seeker repeatedly falters; liberation in Shaiva thought requires inner clarity, not merely external guidance.

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

Linga-worship and devotion to Saguna Shiva purify the mind and buddhi; the verse implies that without such inner purification and right discernment, even correct teachings about Shiva are not truly grasped.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with disciplined conduct and contemplation is implied—so the buddhi becomes steady in truth and the seeker stops ‘stumbling’ in practice.