Shloka 32

Munipraśna-varṇana

Description of the Sages’ Inquiry

Devanagari script

स्त्रियश्च प्रायशो भ्रष्टा भर्त्रवज्ञानकारिकाः । श्वशुरद्रो हकारिण्यो निर्भया मलिनाशनाः

Transliteration

striyaśca prāyaśo bhraṣṭā bhartravajñānakārikāḥ | śvaśuradro hakāriṇyo nirbhayā malināśanāḥ

Translation

สตรีทั้งหลายโดยมากเสื่อมจากธรรม และดูหมิ่นสามีของตน แม้ต่อพ่อผัวและผู้ใหญ่ก็กลับเป็นปฏิปักษ์ กล้าหาญไร้ยำเกรง ไร้หิริโอตตัปปะ ละทิ้งความบริสุทธิ์และความละอาย

Word by Word

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रायशः: mostly/generally
• प्रायशः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रायशः (अव्यय)
• Form: आवृत्तिवाचक/प्रायिकत्ववाचक-अव्यय (adverb: generally/mostly)

• भ्रष्टाः: fallen/corrupt
• भ्रष्टाः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रष्ट (कृदन्त; √भ्रंश्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (स्त्रियः)

• भर्तृ-अवज्ञान-कारिकाः: showing contempt for husbands
• भर्तृ-अवज्ञान-कारिकाः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक) + अवज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'भर्तुः अवज्ञानं कुर्वन्त्यः'

• श्वशुर-द्रोह-कारिण्यः: doing harm/treachery to fathers-in-law
• श्वशुर-द्रोह-कारिण्यः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वशुर (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रोह (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'श्वशुरे द्रोहं कुर्वन्त्यः'

• ह-कारिण्यः: uttering 'ha' / wailing (as an epithet)
• ह-कारिण्यः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह (वर्ण-प्रातिपदिक) + कारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'हकारं कुर्वन्त्यः/उच्चारयन्त्यः' (pejorative epithet)

• निर्भयाः: fearless/shameless
• निर्भयाः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• मलिन-अशनाः: having impure food/eating impurely
• मलिन-अशनाः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मलिन (प्रातिपदिक) + अशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: 'मलिनम् अशनं येषाम्/यासाम्'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kali-yuga social inversion presented as symptom of māyā’s binding power

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It depicts social and ethical decline as a symptom of weakening dharma, preparing the listener for Shiva’s remedy—restoring inner purity (śauca), restraint, and devotion, which Shaiva Siddhanta treats as prerequisites for grace (anugraha) and liberation.

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

By highlighting disorder and loss of modesty, the text points toward Saguna Shiva worship—Linga-pūjā, mantra, and disciplined conduct—as stabilizing practices that purify the mind and re-establish dharma, making one fit to approach Shiva as Pati (the Lord).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is purification and restraint through Shiva-upāsanā—regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), application of Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), and steady devotional discipline to counter inner impurity and fearlessness born of shamelessness.