Shloka 24

ब्राह्मणीस्वर्गतिवर्णनम्

Brāhmaṇī-Svargati-Varṇana: Account of a Brāhmaṇa Woman’s Ascent to Heaven

Devanagari script

वत्स उवाच । प्रथमं यत्कृतं कर्म तत्फलं भुज्यतेऽधुना । अस्याश्च ब्रह्महत्याया मातः किं फलमाप्स्यसे

Transliteration

vatsa uvāca | prathamaṃ yatkṛtaṃ karma tatphalaṃ bhujyate'dhunā | asyāśca brahmahatyāyā mātaḥ kiṃ phalamāpsyase

Translation

వత్సుడు అన్నాడు—మొదట చేసిన కర్మ ఫలమే ఇప్పుడు అనుభవించబడుతోంది. మరి, తల్లీ, ఈ బ్రహ్మహత్యకు నీవు ఏ ఫలాన్ని పొందుతావు?

Word by Word

• वत्सः: Vatsa (name)
• वत्सः: कर्ता (Karta/Speaker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रथमम्: first/at first
• प्रथमम्: अधिकरण (Manner/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative: ‘first/at first’)

• यत्: which/whatever
• यत्: कर्म (Object; relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• कृतम्: done
• कृतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कर्म: deed/action
• कर्म: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Determiner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• भुज्यते: is experienced/enjoyed
• भुज्यते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: ‘is enjoyed/experienced’)

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: अधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: now)

• अस्याः: of this (woman)/of her
• अस्याः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

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

• ब्रह्महत्यायाः: of the sin of Brahmin-slaying
• ब्रह्महत्यायाः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + हत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (brahmaṇaḥ hatyā)

• मातः: O mother
• मातः: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• किम्: what?
• किम्: कर्म (Interrogative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• फलम्: result
• फलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आप्स्यसे: will you obtain
• आप्स्यसे: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Vatsa

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the inescapable law of karma: prior actions ripen into present experience. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, it also implies that bondage (pāśa) persists through karmic residue until purified through dharma, repentance, and Shiva-oriented means of purification.

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

By stressing karmic consequence and grave sin (brahma-hatyā), the narrative supports the Purana’s broader teaching that taking refuge in Saguna Shiva—especially through Linga worship and pilgrimage—serves as a purifying path, transforming the devotee toward Shiva’s grace (anugraha) and eventual liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The direct takeaway is self-examination and atonement: confessing wrongdoing, adopting dharmic conduct, and performing Shiva-centered practices such as japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and regular Linga-pūjā as a means of purification.