Shloka 64

Devanagari script

जराभिभूतः पुरुषः पुत्रीपुत्रादिबांधवैः । आसक्तत्वाद्दुराधर्षैर्भृत्यैश्च परिभूयते

Transliteration

jarābhibhūtaḥ puruṣaḥ putrīputrādibāṃdhavaiḥ | āsaktatvāddurādharṣairbhṛtyaiśca paribhūyate

Translation

When a man is overpowered by old age, he is slighted by his relatives—daughters, sons, grandchildren and the rest; and because of his clinging attachment, he is also humiliated even by servants who were once difficult to oppose.

Word by Word

• जराभिभूतः: overpowered by old age
• जराभिभूतः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जराभिभूत (कृदन्त; √भू धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), उपसर्ग: अभि-; समास: जरा- + अभिभूत (तत्पुरुष)

• पुरुषः: a man/person
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• पुत्री-पुत्र-आदि-बान्धवैः: by relatives such as daughters and sons
• पुत्री-पुत्र-आदि-बान्धवैः: Karana (करण) / Agent-instrumental (तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्री + पुत्र + आदि + बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समास: पुत्रीपुत्रादि (तत्पुरुष) + बान्धव (तत्पुरुष)

• आसक्तत्वात्: due to attachment
• आसक्तत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसक्तत्व (प्रातिपदिक; आसक्त कृदन्त + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतौ पञ्चमी (ablative of cause)

• दुराधर्षैः: hard-to-control/insolent
• दुराधर्षैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of भृत्यैः
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुराधर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समास: दुर् + आधर्ष (कर्मधारय/उपपद-समास)

• भृत्यैः: by servants
• भृत्यैः: Karana (करण) / Agent-instrumental (तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• परिभूयते: is insulted/overpowered
• परिभूयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Ethical warning: dependence and attachment (āsakti) intensify suffering in jarā; encourages turning to Śiva as the non-deceiving refuge.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva insight that worldly relationships, when held with attachment (pāśa), become a source of suffering—especially in old age—thereby urging vairāgya and turning the mind toward Pati (Lord Shiva) for liberation.

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

As social identity and support fade, the devotee is guided to rely on the steady refuge of Saguna Shiva—worship of the Shiva-Linga—so devotion replaces dependence on impermanent bonds.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a daily Shiva-Linga worship mindset, cultivating detachment; if following Shaiva observance, add Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrāksha as reminders of renunciation.