Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

नानासुभोज्यवस्तूनि परिविष्य च तत्पुनः । साञ्चलिर्भोजनायाज्ञां चक्रे विज्ञप्तिमानतः

Transliteration

nānāsubhojyavastūni pariviṣya ca tatpunaḥ | sāñcalirbhojanāyājñāṃ cakre vijñaptimānataḥ

Translation

Nachdem Sāñcali immer wieder vielerlei erlesene Speisen aufgetragen hatte, erteilte sie in demütiger Höflichkeit die Einladung und Erlaubnis, mit dem Mahl zu beginnen.

Word by Word

• नाना: various
• नाना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverbial ‘various’)

• सु: well-/good
• सु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद (intensifier ‘well/good’)

• भोज्यवस्तूनि: edible items
• भोज्यवस्तूनि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोज्य (कृदन्त, √भुज्) + वस्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—भोज्यानि वस्तूनि (edible items)

• परिविष्य: having served
• परिविष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + √विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having served/arranged’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• पुनः: again/then
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/कालवाचक (adverb ‘again/then’)

• साञ्चलिः: (he) with folded hands
• साञ्चलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—सः अञ्जलिः (with joined palms; respectful gesture)

• भोजनाय: for eating
• भोजनाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose of eating)

• आज्ञाम्: permission/command
• आज्ञाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चक्रे: made/asked
• चक्रे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• विज्ञप्तिम्: a request
• विज्ञप्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विज्ञप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आनतः: bowed down
• आनतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + √नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle used adjectivally); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘bowed’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights bhakti expressed as humble service: carefully offering and then respectfully inviting the guest to partake. In Shaiva understanding, such reverent conduct purifies the heart and becomes a support for receiving Shiva’s grace.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship, devotion is shown through upacharas like naivedya (food offering) and honoring the presence of the Divine in the guest. The same reverence used in serving a guest is mirrored in serving the Linga with purity, order, and humility.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice offering naivedya with a respectful invitation (vinaya) and a calm mind, mentally dedicating the act to Shiva while remembering the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as an inner attitude of surrender.