Shloka 5

निमन्त्रण-पत्रिका-प्रेषणम् (Dispatch of the Invitation Letter) / Himālaya Sends the Wedding Invitation to Śiva

Devanagari script

अथ प्रस्थापयामास तां शिवाय स पत्रिकाम् । नानाविधास्तु सामग्र्यः स्वजनैर्मुदितात्मभिः

Transliteration

atha prasthāpayāmāsa tāṃ śivāya sa patrikām | nānāvidhāstu sāmagryaḥ svajanairmuditātmabhiḥ

Translation

Daraufhin sandte er jenen Brief an Śiva. Und seine Leute, von Freude im Herzen erfüllt, trafen vielerlei Vorbereitungen.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Kārya-krama (क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: मङ्गल/अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• prasthāpayāmāsa: dispatched, sent
• prasthāpayāmāsa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिच् (causative) ‘sent forth/caused to be dispatched’; √स्था = स्थितौ/गत्यर्थे

• tām: that (her/it)
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• śivāya: to Śiva
• śivāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• patrikām: letter/document
• patrikām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patrikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• nānā-vidhāḥ: of various kinds
• nānā-vidhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘नानाप्रकाराः’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying sāmagryaḥ)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle) विरोध/विशेषार्थक ‘but/indeed’

• sāmagryaḥ: materials, requisites
• sāmagryaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāmagrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• sva-janaiḥ: by/with his own people
• sva-janaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/with/by)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘स्वस्य जनाः’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• mudita-ātmabhiḥ: with joyful-hearted (ones)
• mudita-ātmabhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mudita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘मुदित आत्मा येषां ते’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying svajanaiḥ)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; the verse advances the embassy motif—Himavān dispatches the marriage message to Śiva and begins extensive wedding preparations.

Significance: Teaches sevā-bhāva and utsava-dharma: collective joyful preparation (sāmagrya) as a form of devotion when oriented to Śiva’s purpose.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights a key Shaiva teaching: approaching Śiva begins with sincere intention (the message) and is supported by joyful, sattvic preparation—outer arrangements that reflect inner devotion and readiness for Śiva’s grace.

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

Sending a message and arranging materials mirrors how devotees approach Saguna Śiva through tangible means—offerings, rituals, and invitations—while keeping the heart joyful and reverent, which is central to Linga-upāsanā in the Purāṇic setting.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to prepare pūjā-sāmagrī with a glad mind and accompany the act with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a devotional foundation for any Shaiva rite.