Shloka 14

चाण्डालीसद्गतिवर्णनम् (Cāṇḍālī-sadgati-varṇanam) — “Account of the Cāṇḍālī’s Attainment of a Good Destiny”

Devanagari script

अविमृश्य मदावेशान्मेषबुद्याऽऽमिष प्रिया । एकं जघान गोवत्सं क्रोशंतमतिदुर्भगा

Transliteration

avimṛśya madāveśānmeṣabudyā''miṣa priyā | ekaṃ jaghāna govatsaṃ krośaṃtamatidurbhagā

Translation

മദ്യാവേശത്തിൽ, ആലോചിക്കാതെ, മാംസപ്രിയയായ ആ മഹാദുര്ഭാഗിനി—ആടെന്ന് തെറ്റിദ്ധരിച്ചു—കരഞ്ഞുകൊണ്ടിരുന്ന ഒരു കാളക്കുട്ടിയെ വെട്ടിക്കൊന്നു.

Word by Word

• अविमृश्य: without reflecting
• अविमृश्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + मृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): ‘without considering’

• मदावेशात्: from intoxication/possessed by drunkenness
• मदावेशात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद + आवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मदस्य आवेशः); पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th case), एकवचन

• मेषबुद्ध्या: with the notion (that it was) a ram
• मेषबुद्ध्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेष + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मेषस्य बुद्धिः/मेष-विषया बुद्धिः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• आमिषप्रिया: she who is fond of meat
• आमिषप्रिया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आमिष + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आमिषस्य प्रिया); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘गोवत्सम्’)

• जघान: killed/struck down
• जघान: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गोवत्सम्: a calf
• गोवत्सम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (गोः वत्सः = calf of a cow); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• क्रोशन्तम्: crying out
• क्रोशन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रुश् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘गोवत्सम्’)

• अतिदुर्भगा: most unfortunate/wretched
• अतिदुर्भगा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + दुर्भगा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying the woman)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights how tamas (delusion) and mada (intoxication/pride) drive a person into adharmic action, creating heavy karma and deeper pasha (bondage) that obstructs Shiva-oriented purification and liberation.

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

Kotirudrasaṃhitā frames pilgrimage and devotion as means of cleansing grave sins; this verse sets the ethical backdrop—harm born of delusion requires repentance, restraint, and turning to Saguna Shiva (Linga worship) for inner transformation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to abandon intoxication and cruelty, adopt japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a sattvic vow (ahimsa), and seek purification through Shiva-devotion such as Linga-abhiṣeka and sincere prāyaścitta.