Shloka 22

Dehāśucitā-vicāraḥ

Inquiry into the Impurity of the Body

Devanagari script

प्रज्वाल्य वह्निं घृततैलसिक्तं प्रदक्षिणावर्तशिखं महांतम् । प्रविश्य दग्धस्त्वपि भावदुष्टो न धर्ममाप्नोति फलं न चान्यत

Transliteration

prajvālya vahniṃ ghṛtatailasiktaṃ pradakṣiṇāvartaśikhaṃ mahāṃtam | praviśya dagdhastvapi bhāvaduṣṭo na dharmamāpnoti phalaṃ na cānyata

Translation

Incluso si uno enciende un gran fuego, alimentado con ghee y aceite, cuyas llamas se curvan auspiciosamente hacia la derecha, e incluso si uno entra en él y se quema, si su intención interna es corrupta, no alcanza el dharma ni fruto espiritual alguno.

Word by Word

• प्रज्वाल्य: having kindled
• प्रज्वाल्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (Gerund/त्वान्त), ‘having kindled’; उपसर्ग: प्र-

• वह्निम्: fire
• वह्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• घृत-तैल-सिक्तम्: smeared with ghee and oil
• घृत-तैल-सिक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक) + तैल (प्रातिपदिक) + सिक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (घृतेन तैलेन च सिक्तम् = smeared with ghee and oil)

• प्रदक्षिण-आवर्त-शिखम्: whose flames whirl to the right
• प्रदक्षिण-आवर्त-शिखम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रदक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + आवर्त (प्रातिपदिक) + शिख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (प्रदक्षिणम् आवर्तः यस्य शिखायाः)

• महान्तम्: great/huge
• महान्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (वह्निम्)

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• प्रविश्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (Gerund), ‘having entered’; उपसर्ग: प्र-

• दग्धः: burnt
• दग्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (कर्ता)

• तु: but
• तु: Virodha (विरोध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेष-निपात (adversative particle)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षा-निपात (also/even)

• भाव-दुष्टः: evil in disposition
• भाव-दुष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक) + दुष्ट (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (भावेन दुष्टः = corrupt in intention)

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

• धर्मम्: dharma/merit
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• आप्नोति: attains
• आप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• अन्यत्: anything else
• अन्यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (inferred, Umāsaṃhitā philosophical instruction)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Teaches that external austerity (even self-immolation-like ordeal) without inner bhāva/śuddhi yields no puṇya; pilgrimage and rites must be joined to right intention.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that dharma and spiritual merit arise from purified bhāva (inner intention). Extreme outward austerity—even self-immolation—cannot yield true fruit if the mind remains impure; in Shaiva Siddhanta, inner purification is essential for Shiva’s grace.

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

Linga worship and Saguna Shiva devotion are not validated by external signs alone (grand offerings, auspicious omens). The verse emphasizes that Shiva is pleased by sincere devotion and purity; without that, ritual becomes empty and does not produce dharmic or liberating results.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies bhāva-śuddhi: before homa, vrata, or pūjā, cultivate purity through japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), self-examination, and restraint; outward rites should be supported by inward yoga-like discipline and devotion.