Shloka 53

Devanagari script

नवरत्नकिरीटोद्यच्चन्द्र लेखावतंसिनी । शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशा दयायुधधरा शुभा

Transliteration

navaratnakirīṭodyaccandra lekhāvataṃsinī | śuddhasphaṭikasaṃkāśā dayāyudhadharā śubhā

Translation

She was adorned with a crown set with nine gems and wore the crescent-moon mark as her head-ornament. Radiant like flawless crystal, wholly auspicious, she bore “compassion” itself as her weapon.

Word by Word

• नव: nine
• नव: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नव (संख्या/अव्यय)
• Form: संख्यावाचक अव्यय (numeral) as compound member

• रत्न: gems
• रत्न: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• किरीट: crown
• किरीट: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरीट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• उद्यत्: shining/rising
• उद्यत्: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-या/उद्-इ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle) used adjectivally; प्रातिपदिक (compound member) meaning 'rising/shining'

• चन्द्र: moon
• चन्द्र: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• लेखा: crescent line
• लेखा: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• अवतंसिनी: wearing (as an ornament) the crescent moon
• अवतंसिनी: विशेषण (Attribute of subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतंसिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समास: नव-रत्न-किरीट-उद्यत्-चन्द्र-लेखा-अवतंसिनी (she who has as ornament a crescent-moon line shining on a nine-gem crown)

• शुद्ध: pure
• शुद्ध: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• स्फटिक: crystal
• स्फटिक: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्फटिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• संकाशा: like/resembling
• संकाशा: विशेषण (Attribute of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: शुद्ध-स्फटिक-संकाशा (resembling pure crystal)

• दया: compassion
• दया: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• आयुध: weapon
• आयुध: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• धरा: bearing/holding
• धरा: विशेषण (Attribute of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: दया-आयुध-धरा (bearing compassion as a weapon)

• शुभा: auspicious
• शुभा: विशेषण (Attribute of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the vision/description within the Kailasha Samhita discourse to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse presents the Goddess’ saguna (manifest) splendor as a doorway to Shaiva Siddhanta virtue: purity (śuddhi) and compassion (dayā). Her “weapon” is not violence but grace—showing that liberation is supported by inner cleansing and merciful power that loosens bondage (pāśa).

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

In Shiva Purana devotion, Shiva is worshipped as Pati (Lord) and Shakti as His inseparable power. Meditating on the Goddess’ auspicious form refines the devotee’s mind for Linga-worship, where the pure, crystal-like radiance symbolizes the clarified consciousness offered to Shiva through bhakti and disciplined conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna (meditation) on the Goddess’ pure, crystal-like brilliance while chanting the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—cultivating dayā (compassion) as a daily vow; this aligns with Shaiva purification practices that support japa and worship.