Shloka 3

भोजन-आह्वान-प्रकरणम् — The Episode of Invitation and the Divine Feast

Devanagari script

अथ शैलस्सुरान्सर्वानन्यानपि च सेश्वरान् । भोजनायाह्वयामास पुत्रैश्शैलैः परैरपि

Transliteration

atha śailassurānsarvānanyānapi ca seśvarān | bhojanāyāhvayāmāsa putraiśśailaiḥ parairapi

Translation

Da lud der Berg (Himālaya) alle Götter ein, ebenso auch die anderen himmlischen Wesen samt ihren waltenden Herren, zu einem rituellen Mahl; und er tat dies auch zusammen mit seinen Söhnen, den übrigen Bergen.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय

• शैलः: the mountain (Himavān)
• शैलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (हिमवान्)

• सुरान्: the gods
• सुरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (सुरान्/अन्यान्)

• अन्यान्: other
• अन्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (सेश्वरान्)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक अव्यय (also/even)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• सेश्वरान्: along with their lords; having rulers
• सेश्वरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘ईश्वरैः सह’/‘ईश्वरयुक्त’) विशेषण

• भोजनाय: for a meal/for eating
• भोजनाय: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे

• आह्वयामास: invited/called
• आह्वयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + ह्वे (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोग (Causative), लिट् (Periphrastic Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुत्रैः: with (his) sons
• पुत्रैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• शैलैः: with (other) mountains
• शैलैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• परैः: other
• परैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (शैलैः)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Himalaya
• Devas
• Ishvaras (presiding lords)

FAQs

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

It presents dharmic hospitality and sacred assembly as auspicious preparation for divine events—an outer act of harmony that supports inner purity and receptivity to Śiva’s grace in the unfolding Pārvatī narrative.

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

Though the verse describes a feast, it reflects the Shaiva ethos of honoring divine presence in all beings; such reverent gatherings are part of the cultural setting in which Saguna Śiva worship (including Liṅga-pūjā) is performed with sanctity and order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is sattvic hospitality and offering (anna-dāna/atithi-sevā) as a devotional support; one may accompany such acts with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to consecrate the occasion.