Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

मृते भर्तरि सा नारी दुखितातिविषण्णधीः । किंचित्कालं शुभाचारा सुशीलोवास सद्मनि

Transliteration

mṛte bhartari sā nārī dukhitātiviṣaṇṇadhīḥ | kiṃcitkālaṃ śubhācārā suśīlovāsa sadmani

Translation

ഭർത്താവ് മരിച്ചപ്പോൾ ആ സ്ത്രീ അത്യന്തം ദുഃഖിതയായി, മനസ്സിൽ ഏറെ വിഷണ്ണയായി; എങ്കിലും ശുഭാചാരം പാലിച്ച്, സുഷീലയായി, കുറേകാലം സ്വന്തം ഗൃഹത്തിൽ തന്നെ വസിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• मृते: when (he) had died
• मृते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• भर्तरि: in/when the husband (was dead)
• भर्तरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नारी: woman
• नारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सा इति समनाधिकरण (apposition)

• दुखिता: sorrowful
• दुखिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुखित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying सा/नारी)

• अति: very
• अति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्ग/अव्यय (intensifier: very/excessively)

• विषण्णधीः: having a dejected mind
• विषण्णधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषण्ण + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (विषण्णा धीः यस्याः/या); विशेषण (describing the woman)

• किंचित्: some
• किंचित्: Visheshana (विशेषण/परिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किंचित् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-नपुंसक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; परिमाणसूचक (some/a little)

• कालम्: time (for a while)
• कालम्: Karma (कर्म/कालावधि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कालावधि-द्वितीया (accusative of duration)

• शुभाचारा: of good conduct
• शुभाचारा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शुभः आचारः यस्याः); विशेषण

• सुशीलः: virtuous/gentle-natured
• सुशीलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सु- उपसर्गपूर्वक); विशेषण (intended as स्त्रीलिङ्गार्थे/पाठभेद: सुशीला)

• उवास: dwelt/lived
• उवास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सद्मनि: in the house
• सद्मनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (location)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It portrays how intense worldly loss can become a doorway to vairāgya (detachment) when held with śubha-ācāra (right conduct), preparing the heart to seek refuge in Shiva (Pati) beyond impermanent bonds.

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

Though the verse is narrative, its mood supports Saguna Shiva devotion: in grief and instability, the devotee is guided to steadiness through dharma, which in Kotirudrasaṃhitā commonly culminates in Shiva’s grace accessed through Jyotirliṅga/Liṅga worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Implicitly, it recommends maintaining purity and right conduct during sorrow, and channeling the mind toward Shiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple daily remembrance; specific items like bhasma or rudrākṣa are not stated in this verse.