Shloka 5

Dehāśucitā-vicāraḥ

Inquiry into the Impurity of the Body

Devanagari script

हृद्यान्यप्यन्नपानानि यं प्राप्य सुरभीणि च । अशुचित्वं प्रयांत्याशु किमन्यदशुचिस्ततः

Transliteration

hṛdyānyapyannapānāni yaṃ prāpya surabhīṇi ca | aśucitvaṃ prayāṃtyāśu kimanyadaśucistataḥ

Translation

ಹೃದಯಂಗಮವಾದ ಅನ್ನಪಾನಗಳೂ ಸುಗಂಧ ದ್ರವ್ಯಗಳೂ ಅವನನ್ನು ಸ್ಪರ್ಶಿಸಿದ ತಕ್ಷಣವೇ ಶೀಘ್ರ ಅಶುದ್ಧವಾಗುತ್ತವೆ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಅವನು ಅಶುಚಿಯೆಂಬುದಕ್ಕೆ ಇನ್ನೇನು ಪ್ರಮಾಣ ಬೇಕು?

Word by Word

• हृद्यानि: pleasant, agreeable
• हृद्यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/बल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• अन्नपानानि: foods and drinks
• अन्नपानानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न + पान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्राप्य: having reached
• प्राप्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having reached/obtained’

• सुरभीणि: fragrant
• सुरभीणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अशुचित्वम्: impurity
• अशुचित्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशुचित्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; भाववाचक (abstract noun)

• प्रयान्ति: they go/turn into
• प्रयान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• अन्यत्: anything else
• अन्यत्: Karma/Predicate (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• अशुचिः: impure (one/thing)
• अशुचिः: Karta/Predicate (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (used substantively)

• ततः: therefore
• ततः: Hetu/Conclusion (हेतु/निगमन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-अर्थे (ablatival adverb: ‘therefore/from that’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse stresses that impurity is not merely external; a person’s inner state and conduct can contaminate even what is outwardly pleasant and fragrant. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it points to the need to overcome mala (impurity) through right living, devotion, and Shiva-oriented purification.

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

Linga worship emphasizes sanctity and purification (śauca) of body and mind. This verse supports the principle that approaching Saguna Shiva’s worship with impure intent or unethical conduct undermines ritual purity; true worship requires inner cleanliness aligned with dharma and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to cultivate śauca and self-restraint before worship—such as bathing, maintaining clean offerings, applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with reverence, and repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to purify the mind.