Shloka 28

आवरणपूजावर्णनम् (Āvaraṇa-pūjā-varṇanam) — Description of Enclosure/Layered Worship

Devanagari script

कृताञ्जलिपुटास्सर्वे चिन्त्याः स्मितमुखाम्बुजाः । सादरं प्रेक्षमाणाश्च देवं देवीञ्च सर्वदा

Transliteration

kṛtāñjalipuṭāssarve cintyāḥ smitamukhāmbujāḥ | sādaraṃ prekṣamāṇāśca devaṃ devīñca sarvadā

Translation

All of them, with hands joined in reverent añjali, were absorbed in inward contemplation, their lotus-like faces smiling. With devoted respect they continually gazed upon the Lord and the Goddess.

Word by Word

• kṛta-añjali-puṭāḥ: having hands folded in reverent salutation
• kṛta-añjali-puṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृ धातु, क्त कृदन्त) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक) + puṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कृतः अञ्जलिपुटः येषाम्/कृताञ्जलिपुटाः)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्व-शब्दः (pronoun/adjective)

• cintyāḥ: to be contemplated/meditated upon
• cintyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cintya (चिन्त् धातु, यत्/ण्यत् कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; यत्/ण्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle)

• smita-mukha-ambujāḥ: with smiling lotus-like faces
• smita-mukha-ambujāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smita (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक) + ambuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्मितं मुखं यस्य/स्मितमुखम्; मुखम् अम्बुजम् इव/मुखाम्बुजम्; स्मितमुखाम्बुजाः)

• sa-ādaram: with respect, reverently
• sa-ādaram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa (सह/स- उपसर्ग/अव्ययभाव) + ādara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial)

• prekṣamāṇāḥ: looking at
• prekṣamāṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-īkṣ (ईक्ष् धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; वर्तमानकालिक कर्तरि शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• devam: the god (Deva)
• devam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• devīm: the goddess (Devī)
• devīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kāla (काल/Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

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?

It highlights the Shaiva path where bhakti (añjali and reverence) and dhyāna (inner contemplation) mature into darśana—steadfast awareness of Pati (Śiva) together with Devī (Śakti), whose grace loosens pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (individual soul).

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

The verse depicts saguna-upāsanā: devotedly beholding the personal Lord and the Goddess with love and respect. In Linga worship, the same attitude is expressed by offering añjali, maintaining a smiling, settled mind, and fixing attention on Śiva’s presence in the Liṅga as a support for contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice añjali with humility, keep a gentle (smiling) calmness of mind, and sustain dhyāna while taking darśana—optionally alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to steady attention on Śiva and Devī.