Shloka 41

Devanagari script

ओष्ठद्वयकपाटं च तथा जिह्वार्गलान्वितम् । भोगतृष्णातुरं मूढं रागद्वेषवशानुगम्

Transliteration

oṣṭhadvayakapāṭaṃ ca tathā jihvārgalānvitam | bhogatṛṣṇāturaṃ mūḍhaṃ rāgadveṣavaśānugam

Translation

இரு உதடுகள் கதவுப் பலகைகளாய், நாவு தாழ்ப்பாளாய் இருக்க, மயக்கமுற்ற உடலுடைய உயிர் இன்பத் தாகத்தால் துன்புற்று ஆசை–வெறுப்பு வலையில் இழுக்கப்படுகிறது.

Word by Word

• ओष्ठ-द्वय-कपाटम्: the ‘door’ of the two lips (mouth)
• ओष्ठ-द्वय-कपाटम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक) + कपाट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (द्वयोः ओष्ठयोः कपाटम् = ‘door of two lips’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/also’)

• जिह्वा-अर्गला-अन्वितम्: endowed with the tongue as a bolt
• जिह्वा-अर्गला-अन्वितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्गला (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (जिह्वायाः अर्गलया अन्वितम् = endowed with the tongue as a bolt); अन्वित = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle from अन्वि/अनु+इ); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implied ‘शरीरम्/मुखम्’)

• भोग-तृष्णा-आतुरम्: afflicted by craving for enjoyment
• भोग-तृष्णा-आतुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + तृष्णा (प्रातिपदिक) + आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भोगेषु तृष्णया आतुरम् / भोगतृष्णया आतुरम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मूढम्: deluded
• मूढम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूढ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; मुह् धातोः क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle from मुह्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• राग-द्वेष-वश-अनुगम्: following the sway of attachment and aversion
• राग-द्वेष-वश-अनुगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राग (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वेष (प्रातिपदिक) + वश (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुग (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रागद्वेषयोः वशम् अनुगतम् = following the control of attachment and aversion); अनुग = क्त/क्तवत्-अर्थे कृदन्त (from अनु+गम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Umā/Parvati on the nature of the bound soul—paśu—and its bondage by pāśas)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It diagnoses the paśu’s bondage: the jīva becomes trapped in embodied life by sensory craving and the dual forces of rāga (clinging) and dveṣa (rejection). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, these are pāśas that obscure right knowledge and keep the soul from realizing Pati (Śiva) as the liberating Lord.

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

Linga/Saguna-Śiva worship trains the mind away from compulsive taste and speech (tongue-driven craving) toward steadiness, purity, and devotion. By centering attention on Śiva through pūjā, mantra, and dhyāna, rāga-dveṣa are weakened and the soul becomes fit for Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practical takeaway: restrain the tongue—moderate food, truthful and sacred speech—and support it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to vairāgya and one-pointed devotion.