Shloka 52

Dehāśucitā-vicāraḥ

Inquiry into the Impurity of the Body

Devanagari script

प्रवृत्तेन्द्रियवृत्तित्वात्कामरोगप्रपीडनात् । तदप्राप्ते तु सततं कुतस्सौख्यं तु यौवने

Transliteration

pravṛttendriyavṛttitvātkāmarogaprapīḍanāt | tadaprāpte tu satataṃ kutassaukhyaṃ tu yauvane

Translation

Because the senses are ever driven outward, and because one is tormented by the disease of desire (kāma), when the desired object is not attained there is continual agitation—so where, indeed, is happiness in youth?

Word by Word

• प्रवृत्त-इन्द्रिय-वृत्तित्वात्: because of the activity of the senses
• प्रवृत्त-इन्द्रिय-वृत्तित्वात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवृत्त (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (प्रत्ययान्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Abl. 5), एकवचन (sg.)

• काम-रोग-प्रपीडनात्: because of the torment of the disease of desire
• काम-रोग-प्रपीडनात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + रोग (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रपीडन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Abl. 5), एकवचन (sg.)

• तत्-अप्राप्ते: when that is not obtained
• तत्-अप्राप्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अप्राप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc. 7), एकवचन (sg.)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• सततम्: always
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• कुतः: whence / how
• कुतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुतः (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: from where/how)

• सौख्यम्: happiness
• सौख्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• यौवने: in youth
• यौवने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यौवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc. 7), एकवचन (sg.)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching in the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches vairāgya: outward-running senses intensify kāma (desire), which becomes a binding affliction (pāśa). When craving is unmet, the mind burns in restlessness, showing that worldly youthfulness is unstable and not true sukha; lasting ease is found by turning toward Pati (Shiva) through discipline and devotion.

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

By exposing the unreliability of pleasure born from sense-objects, the verse points the seeker toward a stable refuge—Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-upāsanā). Fixing the mind on Shiva replaces outward craving with inward steadiness, preparing one for grace and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Sense-restraint supported by Shiva-upāsanā: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditation on Shiva to calm desire-driven agitation; optionally supported by Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to recollection.