Shloka 54

नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा

The Account of Śambhu’s Incarnation that Dispels Doubts Concerning Women

Devanagari script

असमाप्ये शपूजान्तामशुचिर्नष्टधीर्नृपः । रात्रौ चकार सुप्रीत्या भोजनन्नष्टमंगलः

Transliteration

asamāpye śapūjāntāmaśucirnaṣṭadhīrnṛpaḥ | rātrau cakāra suprītyā bhojanannaṣṭamaṃgalaḥ

Translation

శివపూజ ఇంకా ముగియకముందే, అశుచిగా మరియు భ్రమితబుద్ధితో ఉన్న రాజు రాత్రి సంతోషంగా భోజనం చేశాడు; దాంతో అతని మంగళం నశించింది.

Word by Word

• a-samāpye: when (it was) not completed
• a-samāpye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samāpya (कृदन्त/समाप्य) + a- (उपसर्ग/निषेध)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); neuter implied with kāle/avasare understood; past gerundive/absolutive-derived adjective sense: 'not having been completed'

• śa-pūjā-antām: the end of Śiva-worship
• śa-pūjā-antām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śa-pūjā-anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; compound: śa-pūjā (शिवपूजा/‘worship of Śiva’) + anta (अन्त ‘end’)

• aśuciḥ: impure
• aśuciḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective

• naṣṭa-dhīḥ: one whose understanding was lost
• naṣṭa-dhīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naṣṭa (कृदन्त/भूतकृदन्त) + dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; bahuvrīhi: 'whose intellect (dhī) is lost (naṣṭa)'

• nṛpaḥ: the king
• nṛpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• rātrau: at night
• rātrau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• cakāra: did / performed
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• su-prītyā: with great delight
• su-prītyā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; su- (उपसर्ग/उपपद) + prīti (प्रेम)

• bhojanam: a meal / eating
• bhojanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative, Singular

• naṣṭa-maṅgalaḥ: bereft of auspiciousness
• naṣṭa-maṅgalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naṣṭa (कृदन्त/भूतकृदन्त) + maṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; bahuvrīhi: 'whose auspiciousness is lost'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-pūjā is not merely external; inner purity, steadiness of discernment, and completing the worship properly protect one’s maṅgala (spiritual auspiciousness). Negligence born of complacency leads to the loss of merit and clarity.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-pūjā—sequence and completion (upacāras, mantra, and formal conclusion) matter because they train the devotee’s attention and reverence. Breaking the discipline mid-rite reflects a mind that has turned away from the presence of Shiva in the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain śauca (purity), complete the pūjā with proper conclusion (including prayers for forgiveness), and keep vrata-like restraint during worship. A practical takeaway is to remain mindful with Shiva-mantra (e.g., Panchakshara) until the rite is formally ended.