Shloka 13

कामविवाहवर्णनम् / Description of Kāma’s Marriage

Devanagari script

पूर्णेन्दुसदृशं वक्त्रं दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मसुलक्षितम् । न निश्चिकाय मदनो भेदं तन्मुखचन्द्रयोः

Transliteration

pūrṇendusadṛśaṃ vaktraṃ dṛṣṭvā lakṣmasulakṣitam | na niścikāya madano bhedaṃ tanmukhacandrayoḥ

Translation

Als er ihr Antlitz sah, dem Vollmond gleich und von glückverheißenden Zeichen geziert, vermochte Kāma (Madana) keinen Unterschied zu erkennen zwischen dem Mond ihres Gesichtes und dem Mond selbst.

Word by Word

• पूर्णेन्दुसदृशम्: like the full moon
• पूर्णेन्दुसदृशम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्णेन्दु + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: पूर्णेन्दु (full moon) + सदृश (like)

• वक्त्रम्: face
• वक्त्रम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• लक्ष्मसुलक्षितम्: well-marked with auspicious signs
• लक्ष्मसुलक्षितम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्ष्मन् + सुलक्षित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: लक्ष्म (लक्षण/चिह्न) + सुलक्षित (well-marked)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• निश्चिकाय: ascertained, determined
• निश्चिकाय: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√चि (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थ: निश्चयम् अकरोत् (he determined/ascertained)

• मदनः: Madana (Kāma)
• मदनः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• भेदम्: difference
• भेदम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• तत्: of that (her)
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive in compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; समासे पूर्वपदत्वेन ‘तद्-’ → ‘तन्-’

• मुखचन्द्रयोः: between the face and the moon / of the face and the moon
• मुखचन्द्रयोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख + चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास: मुख + चन्द्र (face and moon)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Sati
• Madana (Kama)
• Chandra (Moon)

FAQs

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

The verse uses the “full-moon face” metaphor to show Satī’s divinely auspicious nature—beauty that is not merely sensual but a sign of śakti aligned with Śiva. In a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, such auspiciousness points toward the soul’s movement from worldly attraction to sanctified devotion (bhakti) grounded in purity.

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

Satī’s auspicious marks and radiance foreshadow her role as Śiva’s śakti, through whom devotees approach Saguna Śiva with reverence. The narrative contrasts Kama’s fascination with form against the devotee’s higher gaze—seeing beauty as a doorway to worship (arcana) and contemplation of Śiva’s presence symbolized by the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to transform perception into upāsanā: contemplate the “moon-like” serenity as a cue for japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), steadying the mind so desire (kāma) is refined into devotion rather than distraction.