Shloka 34

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

Embryonic Condition, Bodily Transformation, and Instruction in Detachment

Devanagari script

गर्भावासात्परं दुःखं कष्टं नैवास्ति कुत्रचित् । देहिनां दुःखबहुलं सुघोरमतिसंकटम्

Transliteration

garbhāvāsātparaṃ duḥkhaṃ kaṣṭaṃ naivāsti kutracit | dehināṃ duḥkhabahulaṃ sughoramatisaṃkaṭam

Translation

胎内に住する苦しみに勝る苦は、どこにも存在しない。身をもつ者にとってそれは痛みに満ちた境涯であり、きわめて恐ろしく、はなはだしく窮屈である。

Word by Word

• गर्भ-आवासात्: than dwelling in the womb
• गर्भ-आवासात्: अपादान (Apādāna; comparison/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + आवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गर्भे आवासः)

• परम्: greater
• परम्: कर्ता (Kartā; predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘श्रेष्ठतरम्/अधिकतरम्’ (comparative sense)

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: कर्ता (Kartā; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• कष्टम्: hardship
• कष्टम्: कर्ता (Kartā; appositive/predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘दुःख’स्य विशेषणार्थे अपि

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध/negation particle)

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: अवधारण (Avadhāraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारण/emphasis particle)

• अस्ति: exists/is
• अस्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• कुत्रचित्: anywhere
• कुत्रचित्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa; place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुत्रचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक/locative adverb): ‘कस्मिंश्चित् स्थाने’

• देहिनाम्: of embodied beings
• देहिनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन

• दुःख-बहुलम्: abounding in suffering
• दुःख-बहुलम्: कर्ता (Kartā; predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + बहुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (दुःखेन बहुलम्)

• सु-घोरम्: very terrible
• सु-घोरम्: कर्ता (Kartā; predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः/उपपदसमासवत् (सु + घोर)

• अति-संकटम्: extremely distressing
• अति-संकटम्: कर्ता (Kartā; predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + संकट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अत्यन्तं संकटम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It intensifies dispassion (vairagya) by portraying embodiment as inherently painful, urging the seeker to turn to Pati (Lord Shiva) for release from pasha (bondage) and samsaric rebirth.

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

By highlighting the terror of repeated birth, it frames Linga-worship and devotion to Saguna Shiva as compassionate, accessible means to purify the soul and progress toward Shiva’s liberating grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate daily Shiva-smarana with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya) and steady meditation on Shiva as Pati, using the verse as contemplation to strengthen detachment from worldly attachment.