Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

कदाचिद्भर्तरि क्वापि याते पीतसुराथ सा । इयेष पिशिताहारं सौमिनी व्यभिचारिणी

Transliteration

kadācidbhartari kvāpi yāte pītasurātha sā | iyeṣa piśitāhāraṃ sauminī vyabhicāriṇī

Translation

Có lần, khi chồng nàng đi đâu đó vắng mặt, Sauminī ấy—đã uống rượu và sống buông thả—bỗng khởi lên dục muốn ăn thịt.

Word by Word

• कदाचित्: once/sometimes
• कदाचित्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (sometimes)

• भर्तरि: when the husband (was)
• भर्तरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th case), एकवचन

• क्वापि: somewhere
• क्वापि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (somewhere)

• याते: having gone
• याते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute): ‘when (he) had gone’

• पीतसुरा: having drunk liquor
• पीतसुरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत + सुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (पीता सुरा यस्या/पीता सुरा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘सा’)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

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

• इयेष: desired/wished
• इयेष: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पिशिताहारम्: meat-food / flesh as food
• पिशिताहारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशित + आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पिशितस्य आहारः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सौमिनी: Sauminī (name)
• सौमिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौमिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम/विशेषणवत्

• व्यभिचारिणी: adulterous / unfaithful
• व्यभिचारिणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + अभि + चर् (धातु)
• Form: णिनि-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (agent noun/adjective); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘सौमिनी’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

FAQs

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

It depicts how intoxication and moral transgression weaken discernment (viveka), allowing tamasic cravings to rise—setting the stage for karmic consequences, a recurring ethical theme in Shaiva Purana narration.

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

By contrast: Linga-worship and devotion to Saguna Shiva are taught as disciplines that purify conduct and restrain tamas; the verse highlights the inner decline that devotion and vrata are meant to prevent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to adopt a Shaiva vrata of sobriety and restraint—supporting japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and simple purity disciplines (such as bhasma/tripundra and sattvic conduct) to steady the mind.