Shloka 7

Devanagari script

स्त्रीधनान्युपजीवंति स्त्रीभिरप्यन्तनिर्जिताः । अरक्षणं च नारीणां मायया स्त्रीनिषेवणम्

Transliteration

strīdhanānyupajīvaṃti strībhirapyantanirjitāḥ | arakṣaṇaṃ ca nārīṇāṃ māyayā strīniṣevaṇam

Translation

They live off women’s wealth and are utterly subjugated even by women; they give no protection to women, and—deluded by māyā—indulge in the company of women.

Word by Word

• स्त्रीधनानि: women’s wealth
• स्त्रीधनानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्रीधन (प्रातिपदिक; स्त्री + धन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: स्त्रियाः धनम्)

• उपजीवन्ति: they live on / subsist on
• उपजीवन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप√जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्त्रीभिः: by women
• स्त्रीभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case, Instrumental), बहुवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• अन्तनिर्जिताः: inwardly subdued
• अन्तनिर्जिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तनिर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; अन्त + निर्जित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/उपपद-भाव: अन्तः निर्जिताः = inwardly conquered)

• अरक्षणम्: non-protection / lack of guarding
• अरक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; अ + रक्षण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• नारीणाम्: of women
• नारीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case, Genitive), बहुवचन

• मायया: by deception / by illusion
• मायया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case, Instrumental), एकवचन

• स्त्रीनिषेवणम्: indulgence in women / consorting with women
• स्त्रीनिषेवणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्रीनिषेवण (प्रातिपदिक; स्त्री + निषेवण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (द्वितीया-तत्पुरुष: स्त्रीं निषेवणम्)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing within the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Ethical instruction within Umāsaṃhitā: condemns exploitation of strīdhana, failure to protect women, and indulgence ‘by māyā’—presented as moral collapse that strengthens pāśa (māyā/karma) and obstructs Śiva’s anugraha.

Significance: Frames protection of women and non-exploitation as śauca and dayā necessary for fruitful vrata/tīrtha and for Śaiva caryā (right conduct).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It critiques pasha—bondage through desire and dependence—showing how māyā degrades dharma: exploiting wealth, losing inner mastery, and failing in protective responsibility. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such bondage obstructs Shiva-jñāna and steadiness needed for liberation.

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva devotion cultivate purity, restraint, and dharmic conduct. The verse contrasts that ideal with māyā-driven indulgence, implying that true worship must transform character—reducing lust, greed, and domination into humility and self-governance before Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice sense-restraint supported by daily Shiva-upāsanā: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence, and meditating on Shiva as Pati (Lord) who severs pasha (bondage) born of māyā.