Shloka 54

Dehāśucitā-vicāraḥ

Inquiry into the Impurity of the Body

Devanagari script

न रात्रौ विंदते निद्रां कामाग्निपरिवेदितः । दिवापि च कुतस्सौख्यमर्थोपार्जनचिंतया

Transliteration

na rātrau viṃdate nidrāṃ kāmāgnipariveditaḥ | divāpi ca kutassaukhyamarthopārjanaciṃtayā

Translation

Brûlé par le feu du désir (kāma), il ne trouve pas le sommeil la nuit ; et même le jour, d’où viendrait le bonheur, tourmenté par le souci d’amasser des richesses ?

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• rātrau: at night
• rātrau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• vindate: finds/obtains
• vindate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• nidrām: sleep
• nidrām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nidrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• kāma-agni-pariveditaḥ: tormented/afflicted by the fire of desire
• kāma-agni-pariveditaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + pari√vid (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: समासः: कामाग्नि (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/‘desire-fire’) + परि-विद् धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• divā: by day
• divā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: divā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निपात)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक (particle: also/even)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• kutas: from where/how (could there be)
• kutas: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kutas (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: whence/how)

• saukhyam: happiness/comfort
• saukhyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता-स्थानी), एकवचन

• artha-upārjana-cintayā: by/through worry about earning wealth
• artha-upārjana-cintayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक) + upārjana (प्रातिपदिक) + cintā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: अर्थोपार्जन (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘earning of wealth’) + चिन्ता; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It diagnoses bondage (pāśa) as the restless fire of desire and the anxiety of acquisition; peace arises when the pashu turns from kama-artha obsession toward Pati (Shiva) through detachment and devotion.

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

Linga-worship centers the mind on Shiva as the stable reality beyond craving; by taking refuge in Saguna Shiva through pūjā and remembrance, the agitation of desire and wealth-worry is pacified and the seeker moves toward inner steadiness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady breath and simple living is the practical takeaway; it cools kāmāgni and reduces arthopārjana-cintā by reorienting the mind to Shiva.