Shloka 3

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

Nīrājana

Devanagari script

नीराजनार्थं शम्भोश्च दीपपात्रकरा सती । सर्वर्षिस्त्रीगणैस्साकमगच्छद्द्वारमादरात्

Transliteration

nīrājanārthaṃ śambhośca dīpapātrakarā satī | sarvarṣistrīgaṇaissākamagacchaddvāramādarāt

Translation

Um für Śambhu das nīrājana (ārati) darzubringen, ging Satī—ein Lampengefäß in der Hand—ehrfürchtig zum Eingang, begleitet von den Frauengruppen der Weisen.

Word by Word

• नीराजनार्थम्: for the purpose of ārati
• नीराजनार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीराजन (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः: नीराजनस्य अर्थः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (and)

• दीपपात्रकरा: having a lamp-vessel in (her) hand
• दीपपात्रकरा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः: दीपस्य पात्रम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तस्य करः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) → ‘दीपपात्रं करे यस्याः’ (अर्थतः बहुव्रीह्यर्थ-विशेषणप्रयोग)

• सती: Satī (Pārvatī)
• सती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषनाम/विशेष्य (Pārvatī)

• सर्वर्षिस्त्रीगणैः: with the groups of wives of all sages
• सर्वर्षिस्त्रीगणैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह-करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्रीगण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासः: सर्वे ऋषयः (कर्मधारय) + स्त्रीगणः (समाहार) → ‘ऋषीणां स्त्रीगणैः’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-भाव)

• साकम्: together with
• साकम्: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साकम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक-अव्यय (with/together)

• अगच्छत्: went
• अगच्छत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; धातुः: गम्

• द्वारम्: to the door
• द्वारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आदरात्: out of reverence
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (ablative of cause)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Depicts nīrājana (ārati) offered to Śambhu at a doorway; it is a ritual hospitality moment, not a Jyotirliṅga-sthala origin.

Significance: Establishes ārati as a bhakti-act that invites Śiva’s grace (anugraha) and purifies the household/assembly; paradigmatic for temple and home worship.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti expressed through nīrājana (ārati): offering light to Śiva as the compassionate Pati (Lord) who receives devotion and purifies the devotee’s mind through reverent service.

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

Ārati is a Saguna mode of worship—approaching Śiva through a visible rite (light offering), commonly performed before the Liṅga or Śiva’s manifest presence, affirming that ritual devotion can lead toward inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform dīpa-nīrājana (waving a lamp) with ādarā (reverence), ideally alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating steady devotion and purity of attention.