Shloka 32

Dehāśucitā-vicāraḥ

Inquiry into the Impurity of the Body

Devanagari script

ज्ञात्वैवं दोषवद्देहं यः प्राज्ञश्शिथिलो भवेत् । देह भोगोद्भवाद्भावाच्छमचित्तः प्रसन्नधीः

Transliteration

jñātvaivaṃ doṣavaddehaṃ yaḥ prājñaśśithilo bhavet | deha bhogodbhavādbhāvācchamacittaḥ prasannadhīḥ

Translation

ಹೀಗೆ ದೋಷಯುಕ್ತ ದೇಹವೆಂದು ತಿಳಿದ ಪ್ರಾಜ್ಞನು ಆಸಕ್ತಿಯಿಂದ ಶಿಥಿಲನಾಗುತ್ತಾನೆ. ದೇಹಭೋಗಗಳಿಂದಲೇ ಭಾವಗಳು ಉದ್ಭವಿಸುತ್ತವೆ ಎಂದು ಕಂಡು ಶಾಂತಚಿತ್ತನಾಗಿ ಪ್ರಸನ್ನಬುದ್ಧಿಯವನಾಗುತ್ತಾನೆ.

Word by Word

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), 'having known'

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: प्रकार (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय

• दोषवत्: faulty, full of defects
• दोषवत्: विशेषण (of देहम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दोषवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; वत्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• देहम्: the body
• देहम्: कर्म (Object of ज्ञात्वा/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• प्राज्ञः: a wise person
• प्राज्ञः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• शिथिलः: detached/loosened (from attachment)
• शिथिलः: कर्तृविशेषण (Predicate of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिथिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• भवेत्: may become
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• देह: from the body
• देह: अपादान/हेतु (Source/Cause/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (देहात्)

• भोग: of enjoyment
• भोग: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• उद्भवात्: from the arising (of enjoyment)
• उद्भवात्: अपादान/हेतु (Source/Cause/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भोगस्य उद्भवः)

• भावात्: from the condition/state
• भावात्: हेतु (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; हेतौ (ablative of cause)

• शमचित्तः: one whose mind is tranquil
• शमचित्तः: कर्तृविशेषण (of प्राज्ञः/यः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शम + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शमेन चित्तम् यस्य)

• प्रसन्नधीः: one with clear/serene intellect
• प्रसन्नधीः: कर्तृविशेषण (of प्राज्ञः/यः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (प्रसन्ना धीः यस्य)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma-samhita’s philosophical teaching in discourse form)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches vairāgya: recognizing the body as inherently defective and transient, the seeker loosens attachment and gains śama (inner calm), which supports liberation under Shiva’s grace.

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

By reducing identification with bodily pleasure, the devotee’s mind becomes fit for steady Linga-upāsanā—turning from sense-born moods to focused devotion to Saguna Shiva as the doorway to realizing the Supreme Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with contemplative reflection on the body’s impermanence, cultivating equanimity (śama) before worship.