Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 11

चाण्डालीसद्गतिवर्णनम् (Cāṇḍālī-sadgati-varṇanam) — “Account of the Cāṇḍālī’s Attainment of a Good Destiny”

Devanagari script

अथ सा पिशिताहारा नित्यमापीतवारुणी । अजीजनत्सुतान्तेन शूद्रेण सुरतप्रिया

Transliteration

atha sā piśitāhārā nityamāpītavāruṇī | ajījanatsutāntena śūdreṇa suratapriyā

Translation

Pagkaraan, ang babaeng iyon—na kumakain ng laman at laging umiinom ng alak—na mahilig sa pita ng pagnanasa, ay nagsilang ng isang anak na lalaki sa pamamagitan ng Śūdra na iyon.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/adverb)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पिशिताहारा: meat-eating
• पिशिताहारा: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिशित (प्रातिपदिक) + आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (meat as food)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे प्रयोगः/क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• आपीतवारुणी: having drunk liquor
• आपीतवारुणी: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + पा (धातु) → आपीत (कृदन्त) + वारुणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (drunk—i.e., having drunk—liquor)

• अजीजनत्: she bore, gave birth
• अजीजनत्: Kriya (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense possible in context (जनयति) but form here from √जन् in लङ्

• सुतान्: sons, children
• सुतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• तेन: by him, with him
• तेन: Karana/Agent-associate (करण/सहकर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• शूद्रेण: by/with the Śūdra
• शूद्रेण: Karana/Agent-associate (करण/सहकर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• सुरतप्रिया: fond of lovemaking
• सुरतप्रिया: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरत (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (fond of sexual pleasure)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

FAQs

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

It highlights how tamasic habits—meat-eating, intoxication, and indulgence—tighten pasha (bondage) and generate karmic consequences, contrasting with the Shaiva ideal of inner purity and self-restraint that supports devotion (bhakti) and liberation.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is repeatedly linked with śauca (purity), niyama, and disciplined living; this verse functions as a narrative foil, showing conduct that obstructs steady devotion to Saguna Shiva and the sanctity required for Jyotirlinga pilgrimage and worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is to adopt sattvic discipline: refrain from intoxicants and harmful indulgence, and stabilize the mind through Shiva-japa—especially the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—along with traditional Shaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa where appropriate.