Shloka 20

Munipraśna-varṇana

Description of the Sages’ Inquiry

Devanagari script

शस्त्रास्त्रविद्यया हीना धेनुविप्रावनोज्झिताः । शरण्यावनहीनाश्च कामिन्यूतिमृगास्सदा

Transliteration

śastrāstravidyayā hīnā dhenuviprāvanojjhitāḥ | śaraṇyāvanahīnāśca kāminyūtimṛgāssadā

Translation

వారు శస్త్రాస్త్ర విద్యలేనివారు, గోవులు మరియు బ్రాహ్మణుల రక్షణకు దూరమైనవారు, శరణ్యమైన అరణ్యాశ్రయం కూడా లేనివారు; వారు ఎల్లప్పుడూ కామనలతో చంచలులై, గుంపులుగా ఇంద్రియవిషయాల వెంటే పరుగెత్తే జింకలవలె జీవించారు.

Word by Word

• शस्त्र-अस्त्र-विद्यया: by knowledge of weapons
• शस्त्र-अस्त्र-विद्यया: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; समाहार/सम्बन्धे तत्पुरुषः: ‘शस्त्रास्त्रयोः विद्या’ (knowledge of weapons and missiles)

• हीनाः: devoid (of)
• हीनाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (devoid of)

• धेनु-विप्र-अवन-उज्जिताः: having abandoned protection of cows and brāhmaṇas
• धेनु-विप्र-अवन-उज्जिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक) + विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अवन (प्रातिपदिक) + उज्झित (कृदन्त, त्यज् धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘धेनु-विप्र-अवनम्’ (protection of cows and brāhmaṇas) तद् ‘उज्जित’ (abandoned)

• शरण्य-अवन-हीनाः: devoid of protecting the helpless/refuge-seekers
• शरण्य-अवन-हीनाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अवन (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘शरण्यानाम् अवनम्’ (protection of those seeking refuge) तेन हीनाः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (and)

• कामिनी-ऊति-मृगाः: (they are) like deer after women’s help/favor
• कामिनी-ऊति-मृगाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामिनी (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊति (प्रातिपदिक) + मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘कामिन्याः ऊतिः’ (aid of a woman) तदर्थं ‘मृगाः’ (like deer seeking it)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time: always)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse functions as a dharma-critique (loss of kṣatra-vidyā, cow/brāhmaṇa-protection, and āśraya). In Jyotirliṅga narratives, such social and inner collapse is typically the precondition for Śiva’s restoring presence, but no specific Jyotirliṅga episode is invoked here.

Significance: General: prompts śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) in Śiva as Paśupati, protector of the vulnerable paśu (bound beings).

FAQs

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

It portrays the condition of beings when Dharma and true guidance are absent: without protective order and inner refuge, the mind becomes herd-like—agitated by desire—showing the Shaiva Siddhanta theme that kāma is a pāśa (bond) and liberation requires taking refuge in Pati, Lord Shiva.

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

The verse highlights the need for a reliable śaraṇa (refuge). In the Purana, the Shiva-Linga is presented as the accessible Saguna support through which devotees approach the transcendent Nirguna Shiva—thus restoring protection, stability, and right direction when worldly safeguards fail.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied remedy is śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) in Shiva through steady japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and daily Shaiva discipline such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa, which curb restlessness and reorient the mind from desire to devotion.