Shloka 18

हिमाचलविवाहवर्णनम् — Description of Himācala’s

context for) Marriage / The Himālaya-Marriage Narrative (Chapter Opening

Devanagari script

तुषारनिधिरत्युग्रो नानाश्चर्यविचित्रितः । देवर्षिसिद्धमुनिभिस्संश्रितः शिवसंप्रियः

Transliteration

tuṣāranidhiratyugro nānāścaryavicitritaḥ | devarṣisiddhamunibhissaṃśritaḥ śivasaṃpriyaḥ

Translation

That mighty, awe-inspiring treasury of snow—adorned with many wondrous marvels—is frequented by divine seers, Siddhas, and sages, and is exceedingly dear to Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• tuṣāra-nidhiḥ: treasure/store of snow
• tuṣāra-nidhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tuṣāra (प्रातिपदिक) + nidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• ati-ugraḥ: very fierce/very formidable
• ati-ugraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + ugra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva-like formation with intensifier ati; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies tuṣāra-nidhiḥ

• nānā-āścarya-vicitritaḥ: variegated with many marvels
• nānā-āścarya-vicitritaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nānā (अव्यय) + āścarya (प्रातिपदिक) + vi-√citr (चित्र्) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound with PPP head: 'made variegated with many wonders'; Masculine Nominative Singular

• deva-ṛṣi-siddha-munibhiḥ: by gods, sages, siddhas, and munis
• deva-ṛṣi-siddha-munibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + siddha (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) compound (collective list); Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• saṃśritaḥ: resorted to/inhabited
• saṃśritaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√śri (श्रि) + kta (क्त) (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta past passive participle (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), Masculine Nominative Singular; 'resorted to/inhabited by/taken refuge in'

• śiva-saṃpriyaḥ: dear to Śiva
• śiva-saṃpriyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃpriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: 'dear to Śiva'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: The verse’s ‘treasury of snow’ exceedingly dear to Śiva aligns with the Himalayan Śiva-kṣetra tradition; Kedāra is pre-eminent among snowy Himalayan Śiva abodes, famed as a place where Śiva is especially accessible to sages and siddhas.

Significance: Darśana in the snow-clad kṣetra is held to grant purification and Śiva’s grace, supporting tapas, siddhi, and liberation-oriented devotion.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devarishis
• Siddhas
• Munis

FAQs

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

It glorifies Śiva’s sacred abode (the snow-clad Kailāsa region) as a spiritually charged realm where perfected beings dwell—implying that proximity to Śiva (through devotion and holy association) uplifts the soul toward liberation.

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

By praising the “place dear to Śiva,” the verse supports Saguna Śiva-upāsanā: devotees contemplate Śiva’s auspicious presence and abode, which naturally culminates in reverence for the Śiva-liṅga as the accessible, worshipful form of the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on Kailāsa and Śiva while chanting the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), ideally with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa, cultivating the same sanctity praised as beloved to Śiva.