Shloka 19

Devanagari script

अशूरा अरणप्रीताः पलायनपरायणाः । कुचौरवृत्तयः शूद्रा ः कामकिंकरचेतसः

Transliteration

aśūrā araṇaprītāḥ palāyanaparāyaṇāḥ | kucauravṛttayaḥ śūdrā ḥ kāmakiṃkaracetasaḥ

Translation

அவர்கள் வீரமற்றவர்கள்; காட்டும் குழப்பமும் விரும்பி, எப்போதும் ஓடிப்போகத் தயாரானவர்கள். சிறுசிறு திருட்டுத் தொழிலால் வாழும் இவர்கள்—சூத்ரராக இருந்தும்—மனத்தில் காமத்தின் அடிமைகளாயினர்.

Word by Word

• अशूराः: unheroic
• अशूराः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (not heroic/cowardly)

• अरणप्रीताः: fond of fighting
• अरणप्रीताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरण-प्रिय/प्रीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—अरणे प्रीतः (fond of battle/war) तत्पुरुष

• पलायनपरायणाः: given to fleeing
• पलायनपरायणाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पलायन-परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—पलायने परायणः (intent on fleeing) तत्पुरुष

• कुचौरवृत्तयः: of base thievish conduct
• कुचौरवृत्तयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कु-चौर-वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—कुचौरवृत्तिः (having the conduct of a bad thief) कर्मधारय (descriptive)

• शूद्राः: Shudras
• शूद्राः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कामकिंकरचेतसः: whose minds are slaves of desire
• कामकिंकरचेतसः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम-किंकर-चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—कामस्य किंकरः (servant of desire) तत्पुरुष + चेतस् (mind)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The text’s Kāśī frame treats fearfulness, flight, and desire-slavery as signs of Kali’s concealment; Viśveśvara in Avimukta is the refuge that grants fearlessness and steadiness through grace.

Significance: Approaching Viśvanātha is traditionally associated with abhaya (fearlessness) and release from kāma-driven bondage, redirecting the mind toward Śiva.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It diagnoses a fall in dharma: fear, escapism, and desire-driven living become dominant. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, kāma is a form of pāśa (bondage) that keeps the paśu (individual soul) from turning toward Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga-worship centers the mind on Shiva as the stabilizing Lord. By devotion, japa, and disciplined conduct, the worshipper replaces flighty, desire-led tendencies with steadiness and dharmic courage aligned to Saguna Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical remedy is daily Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrāksha as supports for restraint and clarity, reducing kāma-driven agitation and strengthening sattva.