Shloka 18

हिमालयगृहे नारदस्य आगमनम् तथा विश्वकर्मनिर्मितवैभववर्णनम् — Nārada’s Arrival at Himālaya’s Palace and the Description of Viśvakarman’s Marvels

Devanagari script

विस्मिताः पर्वतान्दृष्ट्वा सन्देहाकुलमानसाः । मैनाकसह्यमेर्वाद्यान्नानालंकारसंयुतान्

Transliteration

vismitāḥ parvatāndṛṣṭvā sandehākulamānasāḥ | mainākasahyamervādyānnānālaṃkārasaṃyutān

Translation

Beim Anblick der Berge gerieten sie in Staunen, und ihr Geist wurde von Zweifel aufgewühlt—sie sahen Maināka, Sahya, Meru und andere, alle geschmückt mit vielerlei mannigfaltigem Schmuck.

Word by Word

• विस्मिताः: astonished
• विस्मिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle from √स्मि/विस्मि), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पर्वतान्: mountains
• पर्वतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• सन्देहाकुलमानसाः: whose minds were confused by doubt
• सन्देहाकुलमानसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्देह-आकुल-मानस (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: सन्देहेन आकुलं मानसं येषाम् (whose minds are troubled by doubt)

• मैनाकसह्यमेर्वाद्यान्: Maināka, Sahya, Meru, etc.
• मैनाकसह्यमेर्वाद्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैनाक-सह्य-मेरु-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः: मैनाकं च सह्यं च मेरुं च आदीन् (Maināka, Sahya, Meru and others)

• नाना: various
• नाना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: विशेषणार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable used adjectivally: various)

• अलंकारसंयुतान्: adorned with ornaments
• अलंकारसंयुतान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलंकार-संयुत (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP from √युज् with सम्), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समास-विग्रहः: अलंकारैः संयुतान् (adorned with ornaments)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga; describes wonder and doubt on seeing ornamented mountains (Maināka, Sahya, Meru). The ‘sandeha’ motif aligns with concealment/veiling that prompts inquiry.

Significance: Teaches that marvels of the world can generate doubt; in Siddhānta, such cognitive agitation is part of pāśa (āṇava/karma/māyā) until clarified by right teaching and Śiva’s grace.

Characters & Entities

• Mainaka
• Sahya
• Meru

FAQs

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

It depicts how extraordinary divine arrangements can evoke both awe and doubt in ordinary minds; Shaiva teaching emphasizes moving from saṃdeha (doubt) to śraddhā (trust) through right understanding and devotion to Shiva, the supreme Pati who governs all marvels of the world.

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

The verse highlights visible, adorned forms in creation that inspire wonder; similarly, Saguna Shiva—worshipped through the Linga and sacred symbols—gives the mind a tangible focus, helping devotees stabilize attention and transform doubt into devotional certainty.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady a doubt-agitated mind by japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while contemplating Shiva as the inner ruler behind all wondrous forms, optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as aids to recollection.