Shloka 21

Garbha-sthiti, Deha-pariṇāma, and Vairāgya-upadeśa

Embryonic Condition, Bodily Transformation, and Instruction in Detachment

Devanagari script

दन्तपंक्तिस्तथा गुह्यं जायंते च नखाः पुनः । कर्णयोस्तु भवेच्छिद्रं षण्मासाभ्यंतरेण तु

Transliteration

dantapaṃktistathā guhyaṃ jāyaṃte ca nakhāḥ punaḥ | karṇayostu bhavecchidraṃ ṣaṇmāsābhyaṃtareṇa tu

Translation

Pagkaraan, lumilitaw ang hanay ng mga ngipin, ang lihim na sangkap (ari), at muli ang mga kuko; at sa loob ng anim na buwan, nabubuo ang mga butas ng dalawang tainga.

Word by Word

• दन्त-पङ्क्तिः: row of teeth
• दन्त-पङ्क्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + पङ्क्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दन्तानां पङ्क्तिः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: likewise)

• गुह्यम्: the genital organ/secret part
• गुह्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• जायन्ते: are born/arise
• जायन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• नखाः: nails
• नखाः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/क्रम (adverb: again/further)

• कर्णयोः: in the two ears
• कर्णयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6th/7th), द्विवचन; अत्र सप्तमी-अर्थे (in the ears)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेष (particle: but/indeed)

• भवेत्: would be/arises
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/संभावना), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• छिद्रम्: a hole/opening
• छिद्रम्: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• षण्-मास-अभ्यन्तरेण: within six months
• षण्-मास-अभ्यन्तरेण: Karana (करण/instrument; time-span)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + मास (प्रातिपदिक) + अभ्यन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (षण्मासस्य अभ्यन्तरेण = within six months)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेष/पुनरुक्ति (particle)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (inferred, Umāsaṃhitā typically presents Śiva’s instructive discourse to Umā/Devī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

FAQs

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

By detailing the gradual formation of bodily organs, the verse highlights the body as a constructed, time-bound instrument—helping the seeker cultivate detachment (vairāgya) and turn toward Śiva as Pati, the liberating Lord beyond changing embodiment.

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

It contrasts the perishable, developing body with the steady refuge of Saguna Śiva worship (such as Liṅga-upāsanā). Recognizing the body’s formed nature encourages reliance on Śiva’s grace rather than identification with sensory faculties.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sense-restraint (indriya-nigraha) and contemplation on impermanence while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), using devotion to Śiva to transcend attachment to the body and its organs.