Shloka 28

Strī-svabhāva-kathanam: Nārada–Pañcacūḍā-saṃvāda

Discourse on Dispassion via the Nārada–Pañcacūḍā Dialogue

Devanagari script

चलस्वभाव दुश्चेष्टा दुर्गाह्या भवतस्तथा । प्राज्ञस्य पुरुषस्येह यथा रतिपरिग्रहात्

Transliteration

calasvabhāva duśceṣṭā durgāhyā bhavatastathā | prājñasya puruṣasyeha yathā ratiparigrahāt

Translation

Your (mind’s) nature is fickle, its impulses are ill-directed, and it is hard to restrain; so too, in this world, even a discerning man becomes difficult to govern when he is seized by sensual attachment.

Word by Word

• चला-स्वभावा: having a fickle nature
• चला-स्वभावा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चला (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय-समासः—‘चलः स्वभावः यस्याः सा’

• दुश्चेष्टा: of bad conduct/ill-behaved
• दुश्चेष्टा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुस् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + चेष्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष-समासः—‘दुष्टा चेष्टा यस्याः/या’

• दुर्गाह्या: hard to comprehend/handle
• दुर्गाह्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ग्राह्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < √ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; ‘दुर्गाह्य’ = difficult to grasp/understand

• भवतः: of you
• भवतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; honorific ‘of you’

• तथा: thus/so
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• प्राज्ञस्य: of the wise
• प्राज्ञस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular; qualifies ‘पुरुषस्य’

• पुरुषस्य: of a man/person
• पुरुषस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• इह: here/in this world
• इह: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• यथा: just as/as
• यथा: Upamana-marker (उपमानसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (उपमान/तुलनार्थक-अव्यय)

• रति-परिग्रहात्: from attachment to pleasure
• रति-परिग्रहात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक) + परिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; तत्पुरुष-समासः—‘रतेः परिग्रहः’ (attachment/acceptance of pleasure)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse identifies desire-driven attachment as a key form of pāśa (bondage): when the mind is restless and pleasure is clung to, even the intelligent lose self-mastery; liberation requires steadiness and dispassion under Shiva’s guidance.

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

Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-upāsanā) trains the scattered mind through devotion, mantra, and ritual discipline; by fixing attention on Shiva’s form and presence, the aspirant weakens rati (sensual fixation) and turns the mind toward Pati (the Lord) rather than pāśa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with breath-awareness, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence, and cultivate vairāgya by observing and releasing pleasure-craving as it arises.