Shloka 62

Dehāśucitā-vicāraḥ

Inquiry into the Impurity of the Body

Devanagari script

स्त्रीपुंसयौवनं हृद्यमन्योऽन्यस्य प्रियं पुरा । तदेव जरयाग्रस्तमनयोरपि न प्रियम्

Transliteration

strīpuṃsayauvanaṃ hṛdyamanyo'nyasya priyaṃ purā | tadeva jarayāgrastamanayorapi na priyam

Translation

In former times, the youth of woman and man was pleasing to the heart—each was dear to the other. Yet that very same youth, once seized by old age, becomes unpleasing even to them both.

Word by Word

• strī-puṃsa-yauvanam: the youth of woman and man
• strī-puṃsa-yauvanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक) + puṃs (प्रातिपदिक) + yauvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (strī-puṃsa = स्त्रीपुंसयोः; strīpuṃsa-yauvana = स्त्रीपुंसयोः यौवनम्); Nominative singular

• hṛdyam: pleasing to the heart
• hṛdyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛdya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचन; adjective to ‘yauvanam’; Nominative singular

• anyaḥ: one (person)
• anyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular

• anyasya: of the other
• anyasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचन; Genitive singular

• priyam: dear/pleasant
• priyam: Pradhana-visheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचन; predicate adjective (nom. sg.)

• purā: formerly
• purā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; here Nominative singular with ‘eva’

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis/limitation)

• jarayā: by old age
• jarayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jarā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• grastam: seized/afflicted
• grastam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: grasta (कृदन्त; √gras धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त past participle; predicate/qualifier of ‘tat’; Nominative singular

• anayoḥ: of these two
• anayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकयोः षष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचन; here Genitive dual (‘of these two’ = of the couple)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक-अव्यय (particle ‘also/even’)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• priyam: dear/pleasant
• priyam: Pradhana-visheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचन; predicate adjective referring to ‘tat’; Nominative singular

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Umā/Parvatī on dispassion and the impermanence of bodily attraction)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Didactic reminder for gṛhastha-bhaktas: redirect eros-based attachment toward Śiva-bhakti before jarā veils discernment.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches vairāgya (dispassion) by showing that bodily charm and mutual attraction are impermanent; recognizing this loosens pasha (bondage) and turns the mind toward the deathless Pati—Lord Shiva.

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

The verse contrasts transient bodily beauty with the enduring refuge of Shiva; Linga/Saguna worship trains the devotee to shift love from changing forms to the eternal consciousness symbolized by the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with contemplation on the body’s aging, and offer bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) as a reminder that all forms return to ash while Shiva alone remains.