Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 23

ब्राह्मणीमरणवर्णनम् (Account of the Brahmin Woman’s Death) — within Nandikeśvara-māhātmya

यदा प्राणान्न मुमुचे माता दैवात्तयोश्च सा । तद्दृष्ट्वा जननीकष्टं पुत्रकावूचतुस्तदा

yadā prāṇānna mumuce mātā daivāttayośca sā | taddṛṣṭvā jananīkaṣṭaṃ putrakāvūcatustadā

దైవవశాత్ వారి తల్లి ప్రాణాలను విడువకపోయినప్పుడు, జననీ యొక్క ఘోర కష్టాన్ని చూచి ఆ ఇద్దరు కుమారులు ఆ సమయంలో పలికిరి।

यदाwhen
यदा:
सम्बन्ध/कालाधिकरण (kāla-sambandha)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयदा (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb/conjunction): 'when'
प्राणान्life-breaths; vital airs
प्राणान्:
कर्म (Karma/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootप्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Plural)
not
:
सम्बन्ध (negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)
मुमुचेreleased; let go
मुमुचे:
क्रिया (Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootमुच् (धातु)
Formलिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Perfect, 3rd person singular, Parasmaipada)
माताthe mother
माता:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootमातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)
दैवात्by fate; due to destiny
दैवात्:
हेतु/अपादान (Hetu/Apādāna)
TypeNoun
Rootदैव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Ablative, Singular); हेत्वर्थे (in sense of cause: 'due to fate')
तयोःof those two
तयोः:
सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Genitive, Dual)
and
:
सम्बन्ध (coordination)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
साshe
सा:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)
तत्that
तत्:
कर्म (Karma/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)
दृष्ट्वाhaving seen
दृष्ट्वा:
पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (prior action)
TypeVerb
Rootदृश् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive): 'having seen'
जननी-कष्टम्the mother's distress
जननी-कष्टम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootजननी (प्रातिपदिक) + कष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'mother's distress'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)
पुत्रकौthe two sons
पुत्रकौ:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootपुत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Dual)
ऊचतुःsaid
ऊचतुः:
क्रिया (Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootवच् (धातु)
Formलिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद (Perfect, 3rd person dual, Parasmaipada)
तदाthen
तदा:
कालाधिकरण (kāla-adhikaraṇa)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb): 'then'

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Tattva Level: pashu

Role: nurturing

M
Mother
T
Two sons
D
Daiva (destiny)

FAQs

It highlights daiva (the fruition of past karma) and the human response of karuṇā (compassion): seeing suffering, the sons are moved to act and speak, implying dharmic effort alongside acceptance of destiny—aligned with Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on right conduct while seeking Shiva’s grace.

Though the verse is narrative, it sets the emotional ground for turning toward Saguna Shiva (as Linga/Jyotirlinga) for refuge—when worldly supports falter under daiva, devotees seek Shiva’s anugraha (grace), often expressed through pilgrimage, prayer, and Linga worship in the Kotirudra context.

A practical takeaway is to respond to crisis with prayerful steadiness: recite the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offer water to the Shiva Linga, and cultivate compassionate action—seeing another’s pain as a prompt for dharma and devotion.