Shloka 1

महेश्वरागमनं तथा नीराजन-सत्कारवर्णनम् / The Arrival of Maheśvara and the Rite of Welcome

Nīrājana

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । अथ शंभुः प्रसन्नात्मा सदूतं स्वगणैस्सुरैः । सर्वैरन्यैर्गिरेर्द्धाम जगाम सकुतूहलम्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | atha śaṃbhuḥ prasannātmā sadūtaṃ svagaṇaissuraiḥ | sarvairanyairgirerddhāma jagāma sakutūhalam

Translation

Brahmā sprach: Daraufhin brach Śambhu, dessen Herz heiter und gnädig war, auf—mit dem Boten, mit seinen eigenen Gaṇas, mit den Göttern und allen anderen—zur Wohnstatt des Berges, erfüllt von heiliger Neugier.

Word by Word

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequencing particle)

• śaṃbhuḥ: Śambhu (Śiva)
• śaṃbhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• prasanna-ātmā: whose mind was pleased
• prasanna-ātmā: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: यस्य आत्मा प्रसन्नः सः

• sa-dūtam: with (his) messenger
• sa-dūtam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (प्रातिपदिक) + dūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘दूतेन सह’/‘सह दूतः’ (with a messenger)

• sva-gaṇaiḥ: with his attendants
• sva-gaṇaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Instrumental-association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: स्वस्य गणाः

• suraiḥ: with the gods
• suraiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Instrumental-association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• sarvaiḥ: with all
• sarvaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘anyaiḥ’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• anyaiḥ: with other (beings)
• anyaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• gireḥ: of the mountain
• gireḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• dhāma: abode, dwelling
• dhāma: Karma (कर्म/Object-goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• jagāma: went
• jagāma: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• sa-kutūhalam: with curiosity
• sa-kutūhalam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial accusative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (प्रातिपदिक) + kutūhala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘कुतूहलेन सह’ (with curiosity)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: The narrative movement ‘to the mountain’s abode’ naturally evokes the Himalayan Śaiva landscape; while this verse is not a Kedāra-māhātmya, the giri-dhāma motif aligns with Kedāra as a paradigmatic mountain-sthala of Śiva.

Significance: Mountain pilgrimage symbolizes ascent from pāśa (bondage) toward pati through tapas, darśana, and prasāda; ‘prasannātmā’ underscores grace guiding the journey.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Devas
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Śambhu—the auspicious Lord—moving with a gracious, tranquil heart, indicating that divine action proceeds from compassion and benevolent will, drawing beings (devas and gaṇas) into dharmic alignment.

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

The verse presents Saguna Śiva as a personal Lord who journeys with his attendants and the devas; such narrative intimacy supports devotional worship where the Linga represents that same accessible, auspicious Presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The key takeaway is cultivating a prasanna (clear, pleased) mind through japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and devotional remembrance, approaching worship with reverent curiosity (kutūhala) rather than agitation.