Shloka 61

Śumbha–Niśumbha-pīḍā and Devastuti to Durgā/Śivā

Names and Forms of the Devī

Devanagari script

करेणुर्गर्दभं नैव द्वीपिनी शशकं न वा । मृषा वदत भो दैत्यो मृत्युव्यालनियंत्रिताः

Transliteration

kareṇurgardabhaṃ naiva dvīpinī śaśakaṃ na vā | mṛṣā vadata bho daityo mṛtyuvyālaniyaṃtritāḥ

Translation

A she-elephant never mates with a donkey, nor does a tigress with a hare. O Daitya, you speak falsely—your words are held in check by the serpent of death, and thus cannot stand as truth.

Word by Word

• करेणुः: female elephant
• करेणुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करेणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• गर्दभम्: donkey
• गर्दभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्दभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• एव: at all
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphasis)

• द्वीपिनी: tigress/leopardess
• द्वीपिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वीपिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शशकम्: hare/rabbit
• शशकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प (disjunctive particle: or)

• मृषा: falsely
• मृषा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मृषा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: falsely)

• वदत: speak/say
• वदत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• भो: O!
• भो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भो (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle)

• दैत्य: O demon
• दैत्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• मृत्युव्यालनियन्त्रिताः: restrained by death’s beasts/serpents
• मृत्युव्यालनियन्त्रिताः: Karta (कर्ता/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत्यु + व्याल + नियन्त्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (यूयम्/ते) निहितम्; समासः—मृत्योः व्यालैः नियन्त्रिताः (controlled by the serpents of death / death’s beasts)

Speaker

Goddess Umā (Pārvatī) (inferred from Umāsaṃhitā dialogue context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It teaches discernment (viveka): falsehood is inherently incompatible with reality, just as mismatched unions are impossible. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, speech arising under the bondage of mṛtyu (pāśa) lacks the power of satya and cannot lead the soul toward Shiva.

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

Linga-worship centers on aligning oneself with Shiva’s truth (satya) and purity. This verse contrasts death-bound, deceptive speech with the steadiness required for approaching Saguna Shiva through devotion and right conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice satya and japa with steadiness—especially Panchakshara mantra japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—as a daily discipline to cut through mṛtyu-bondage (fear, deceit, and delusion) and stabilize the mind in Shiva-oriented truth.