Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 36

मन्दरगिरिवर्णनम् — Description of Mount Mandara as Śiva’s Residence

Tapas-abode

Devanagari script

या च नाभिमता भर्तुरपि सर्वांगसुन्दरी । सा वृथैव हि जायेत सर्वैरपि गुणान्तरैः

Transliteration

yā ca nābhimatā bharturapi sarvāṃgasundarī | sā vṛthaiva hi jāyeta sarvairapi guṇāntaraiḥ

Translation

Selbst wenn die Gattin an jedem Glied von Schönheit ist: Ist sie dem Gemahl nicht lieb und nicht wohlgefällig, so wird sie wahrlich vergebens geboren – auch wenn sie viele andere vortreffliche Eigenschaften besitzt.

Word by Word

• या: she who
• या: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अभिमता: approved, desired
• अभिमता: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिमत (कृदन्त; √मन् (धातु) + अभि, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (approved/liked)

• भर्तुः: of the husband
• भर्तुः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-कारक-अव्यय (also, even)

• सर्व-अङ्ग-सुन्दरी: beautiful in all limbs
• सर्व-अङ्ग-सुन्दरी: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + सुन्दरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषाम् अङ्गानाम् सुन्दरी)

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; निर्देशवाचक-सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• वृथा: in vain
• वृथा: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय (adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वृथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (in vain)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis/only)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; for emphasis/causal nuance)

• जायेत: would be born / would become
• जायेत: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सर्वैः: with all
• सर्वैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; (गुणान्तरैः इति सह)

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-कारक-अव्यय (even)

• गुण-अन्तरैः: with other qualities
• गुण-अन्तरैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गुणानाम् अन्तराणि)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that outer excellence (beauty and secondary virtues) is spiritually incomplete without inner concord and dharmic alignment; in Shaiva thought, true worth is measured by purity of disposition and harmony that supports righteous living and devotion.

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

Linga-worship emphasizes the essence over appearances; likewise this verse prioritizes inner acceptance and right relationship over external charm, reflecting the Shaiva principle that Saguna devotion should mature into inner transformation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with a vow of truthful, gentle speech and mutual respect in the household—making conduct itself an offering to Shiva.