Shloka 34

Dehāśucitā-vicāraḥ

Inquiry into the Impurity of the Body

Devanagari script

एवमेतन्महाकष्टं जन्म दुःखं प्रकीर्तितम् । पुंसामज्ञानदोषेण नानाकार्मवशेन च

Transliteration

evametanmahākaṣṭaṃ janma duḥkhaṃ prakīrtitam | puṃsāmajñānadoṣeṇa nānākārmavaśena ca

Translation

ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ‘ਜਨਮ’ ਨਾਮ ਦਾ ਮਹਾਂ ਕਲੇਸ਼ਦਾਇਕ ਦੁੱਖ ਕਿਹਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਦੇਹਧਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਇਹ ਅਗਿਆਨ ਦੇ ਦੋਸ਼ ਅਤੇ ਨਾਨਾ ਕਰਮਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਸ਼ ਹੋਣ ਕਰਕੇ ਮਿਲਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), manner-adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• एतत्: this (thing)
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• महाकष्टम्: very grievous
• महाकष्टम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + kaṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) of ‘एतत्’

• जन्म: birth
• जन्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition to ‘एतत्’

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition/predicate-noun

• प्रकीर्तितम्: has been proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + kīrt (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Kridanta), भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त/क्त (past passive participle, -ta); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• पुंसाम्: of men
• पुंसाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṃs (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अज्ञानदोषेण: by the fault of ignorance
• अज्ञानदोषेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajñāna + doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): अज्ञानस्य दोषः

• नानाकर्मवशेन: by being under the sway of various actions (karmas)
• नानाकर्मवशेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nānā + karma + vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: कर्मणां वशः (subjection to various actions); ‘नाना’ as indeclinable prefix meaning ‘various’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Umā/Parvati in the Umāsaṃhitā’s philosophical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General saṃsāra-darśana: birth as duḥkha due to ajñāna and karma; applicable as doctrinal background to many kṣetra narratives where devotees seek release from karma through Śiva-bhakti.

Significance: Clarifies pāśa: ajñāna (avidyā) and karma as binding forces; motivates seeking Śiva’s anugraha and dīkṣā-oriented liberation.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It identifies the root of saṁsāric suffering as ajñāna (ignorance) and karma, aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta’s pashu–pāśa–pati framework: the soul (paśu) is bound (pāśa) by ignorance and karmic residues until liberated by Shiva’s grace (Pati).

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

Linga worship is a concrete (saguṇa) means to turn the mind toward Shiva, purify karma, and dissolve ignorance; by devotion, mantra, and inner contemplation of the Linga, the seeker moves from karmic compulsion toward Shiva-realization and freedom.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Linga-pūjā, along with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as supports for remembrance, is implied as a Shaiva discipline to reduce ignorance and karmic bondage.