Shloka 23

Garbha-sthiti, Deha-pariṇāma, and Vairāgya-upadeśa

Embryonic Condition, Bodily Transformation, and Instruction in Detachment

Devanagari script

अंगप्रत्यंगसंपूर्णः परिपक्वस्स तिष्ठति । उदरे मातुराच्छन्नो जरायौ मुनि सत्तम

Transliteration

aṃgapratyaṃgasaṃpūrṇaḥ paripakvassa tiṣṭhati | udare māturācchanno jarāyau muni sattama

Translation

હે મુનિશ્રેષ્ઠ! બાળક અંગ-પ્રત્યંગોથી સંપૂર્ણ અને પરિપક્વ થઈ ત્યાં જ રહે છે, માતાના ઉદરમાં જરાયુના આવરણથી ઢંકાયેલો.

Word by Word

• अङ्ग-प्रत्यङ्ग-सम्पूर्णः: complete in limbs and sub-limbs
• अङ्ग-प्रत्यङ्ग-सम्पूर्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṅga + pratyaṅga + sampūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समासः: अङ्गप्रत्यङ्गसम्पूर्ण (तत्पुरुष)

• परिपक्वः: fully developed; mature
• परिपक्वः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paripakva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• सः: he/that (fetus)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun

• तिष्ठति: stands; remains
• तिष्ठति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धाातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• उदरे: in the belly/womb
• उदरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• मातुः: of the mother
• मातुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• आच्छन्नः: covered
• आच्छन्नः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā + chad (छद् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत्), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘covered’

• जरायौ: in the amnion/placental membrane (jarāyu)
• जरायौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jarāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (Vedic/epic locative ending -au)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• सत्तम: O best (of sages)
• सत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; superlative used as epithet of ‘muni’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It highlights embodiment as a state of concealment: the jīva, though capable of fullness, is veiled within material coverings—an image aligned with Shaiva Siddhanta’s pasha (bond) obscuring the soul until grace and right knowledge arise.

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

By stressing the soul’s covered condition in birth, the verse indirectly points to the need for Saguna Shiva-upāsanā—Linga worship, mantra, and devotion—as accessible means through which Pati (Shiva) removes coverings and grants clarity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate remembrance of Shiva through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplative awareness that the self is distinct from bodily coverings—supporting vairāgya and inner purification.