Shloka 39

Śivakṣetra–Tīrtha–Māhātmya

The Salvific Function of Shiva’s Sacred Domains

Devanagari script

ध्यानादेव हि तन्नश्येन्नान्यथा नाशमृच्छति । वाचिकं जपजालेन कायिकं कायशोषणात्

Transliteration

dhyānādeva hi tannaśyennānyathā nāśamṛcchati | vācikaṃ japajālena kāyikaṃ kāyaśoṣaṇāt

Translation

Quả thật, chỉ nhờ thiền định mà nó mới bị diệt trừ; không bằng cách nào khác mà nó chấm dứt. Tội do lời nói được tiêu trừ bởi mạng lưới trì tụng japa; còn tội do thân được diệt bởi khổ hạnh kỷ luật làm thân “khô” đi (nhờ tự chế).

Word by Word

• ध्यानात्: from meditation; by meditation
• ध्यानात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source; cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• एव: only; indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/causal)

• तत्: that (sin/impurity, contextually)
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नश्येत्: would perish; is destroyed
• नश्येत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Adverbial manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: otherwise)

• नाशम्: destruction
• नाशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ऋच्छति: attains; reaches
• ऋच्छति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ऋ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वाचिकम्: verbal (fault/sin)
• वाचिकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; item being removed)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाचिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (elliptic: वाचिकं पापम्/दोषम्)

• जपजालेन: by a net/mass of japa (repetition)
• जपजालेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप + जाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जपस्य जालम्)

• कायिकम्: bodily (fault/sin)
• कायिकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; item being removed)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कायिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (elliptic: कायिकं पापम्/दोषम्)

• कायशोषणात्: from/through mortification of the body (body-drying)
• कायशोषणात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source; cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय + शोषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कायस्य शोषणम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It classifies impurities by level—mental, verbal, and bodily—and teaches that Shaiva purification is achieved through the corresponding disciplines: dhyāna for deep-rooted inner defilement, japa for speech-based faults, and tapas/self-restraint for bodily misconduct, culminating in fitness for Shiva-realization.

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

Linga-worship is traditionally supported by inner dhyāna and mantra-japa; this verse frames those practices as the effective means to remove obstacles (mala) so devotion to Saguna Shiva (as Linga) becomes steady and capable of leading toward the higher realization of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular Shiva-mantra japa (especially the Panchakshara, Om Namaḥ Śivāya) paired with daily dhyāna on Shiva, and disciplined vows/tapas (such as fasting and restraint, often observed on Mahashivratri) to purify body and conduct.