Shloka 52

पार्वत्याः यात्रासंस्कारः तथा पातिव्रत्योपदेशः / Preparations for Girijā’s Auspicious Journey and the Teaching on Pātivratya

Devanagari script

या भर्तारम्परित्यज्य रहश्चरति दुर्मतिः । उलूकी जायते क्रूरा वृक्ष कोटरशायिनी

Transliteration

yā bhartāramparityajya rahaścarati durmatiḥ | ulūkī jāyate krūrā vṛkṣa koṭaraśāyinī

Translation

ഭർത്താവിനെ ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച് രഹസ്യമായി സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്ന ദുർമതിയായ സ്ത്രീ, അടുത്ത ജന്മത്തിൽ ക്രൂരമായ പെൺമൂങ്ങയായി ജനിച്ച് വൃക്ഷങ്ങളുടെ പൊത്തിലുകളിൽ വസിക്കും.

Word by Word

• या: she who
• या: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• भर्तारम्: husband
• भर्तारम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• परित्यज्य: having abandoned
• परित्यज्य: पूर्वकाल (पूर्वक्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-त्यज् (धातु) ; परित्यज्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय-भाव; ‘having abandoned’

• रहः: secretly, in private
• रहः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रहस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘गुप्ते/एकान्ते’ अर्थे

• चरति: behaves/roams
• चरति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• दुर्मतिः: evil-minded woman
• दुर्मतिः: कर्ता-विशेषण (subject-qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘या’ इत्यस्य विशेषणरूपेण

• उलूकी: a female owl
• उलूकी: कर्ता/फल (Resultant state as subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उलूकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जायते: becomes/is born
• जायते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘becomes/is born’

• क्रूरा: cruel
• क्रूरा: कर्ता-विशेषण (subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘उलूकी’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वृक्ष: of a tree
• वृक्ष: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘कोटर’ इत्यस्य सम्बन्धे (tree’s hollow)

• कोटरशायिनी: dwelling in a hollow
• कोटरशायिनी: कर्ता-विशेषण (subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटर-शायिनी (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘कोटरे शयते’ इति उपपद-तत्पुरुष (locative relation)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It teaches the Shaiva view of karma and dharma: secretive, harmful conduct that violates sacred duties produces degrading rebirth and suffering, urging purity, truthfulness, and restraint as supports for spiritual progress toward Shiva.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is grounded in inner and outer purity (ācāra). This verse underscores that devotion to Saguna Shiva bears fruit when aligned with dharma; unethical secrecy and betrayal obstruct the devotee’s path and merit.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt daily Shaiva discipline: repeat the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” maintain truthfulness and self-control, and perform simple purification (e.g., Tripuṇḍra with bhasma) as a reminder to keep conduct transparent and dharmic.