Shloka 32

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

Embryonic Condition, Bodily Transformation, and Instruction in Detachment

Devanagari script

लोहकुंभे यथा न्यस्तः पच्यते कश्चिदग्निना । गर्भकुंभे तथा क्षिप्तः पच्यते जठराग्निना

Transliteration

lohakuṃbhe yathā nyastaḥ pacyate kaścidagninā | garbhakuṃbhe tathā kṣiptaḥ pacyate jaṭharāgninā

Translation

鉄の鍋に置かれたものが外の火によって煮炊きされるように、同じく胎の器に投じられた衆生は、腹中の内なる火によって「煮られ」—成熟し、形づくられる。

Word by Word

• लोहकुम्भे: in an iron pot
• लोहकुम्भे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोह-कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/रीतिवाचक (as, in the manner that)

• न्यस्तः: placed, put down
• न्यस्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न्यस्त (कृदन्त; √न्यस् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle)

• पच्यते: is cooked
• पच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• कश्चित्: someone
• कश्चित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्चित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• अग्निना: by fire
• अग्निना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• गर्भकुम्भे: in the womb-pot (womb as a vessel)
• गर्भकुम्भे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ-कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Correlative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तद्वत्/एवम् (thus, likewise)

• क्षिप्तः: thrown, cast
• क्षिप्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षिप्त (कृदन्त; √क्षिप् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle)

• पच्यते: is cooked
• पच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• जठराग्निना: by the digestive fire
• जठराग्निना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जठर-अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Umā/Parvatī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It uses the metaphor of cooking to show how embodied existence is a process of formation under natural forces; the soul (paśu) enters the womb and is shaped under karmic conditions, highlighting the need for Shiva’s grace (Pati) to transcend bondage (pāśa).

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

By emphasizing the conditioned nature of birth and bodily formation, it points the seeker toward Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-upāsanā) as a stabilizing path of devotion and purification that culminates in Shiva’s liberating grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the impermanence and conditioned nature of the body while practicing japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and maintaining Shaiva purity disciplines (e.g., bhasma/tripuṇḍra and daily worship), cultivating dispassion and surrender to Shiva.