Shloka 38

Devanagari script

कालंजरो महाशैलो बहुहर्षसमन्वितः । बहुभस्सगणः प्रीत्याजगामहिमभूधरम्

Transliteration

kālaṃjaro mahāśailo bahuharṣasamanvitaḥ | bahubhassagaṇaḥ prītyājagāmahimabhūdharam

Translation

The great mountain Kālañjara, filled with abundant joy, lovingly came—along with many attendants bearing bhasma, the sacred ash—to the Himālaya, lord of snowy peaks.

Word by Word

• kālaṃjaraḥ: Kālaṃjara (mountain)
• kālaṃjaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kālaṃjara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; proper noun (mountain-name)

• mahā-śailaḥ: the great mountain
• mahā-śailaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + śaila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; कर्मधारयः (mahān śailaḥ)

• bahu-harṣa-samanvitaḥ: endowed with great joy
• bahu-harṣa-samanvitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + harṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + samanvita (समन्वित, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from √i/√vṛt?; lexical adjective)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; adjective qualifying kālaṃjaraḥ; समासः: bahuharṣa-samanvita (तत्पुरुष: 'endowed with much joy')

• bahu-bhassa-gaṇaḥ: (with) many groups/hosts (reading uncertain)
• bahu-bhassa-gaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + bhassa/bhasma? (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभेद/दुर्लभ) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; compound describing the mountain as having/with many groups; note: 'bhassa' unclear; possibly bhasma/bhṛśa/ or a scribal form

• prītyā: with affection/joyfully
• prītyā: Karaṇa (करण/instrumental—manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; adverbial use

• jagāma: went
• jagāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• hima-bhūdharam: to the Himālaya mountain
• hima-bhūdharam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hima (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūdhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः: himabhūdhara (तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: The verse foregrounds bhasma-bearing attendants, highlighting Śaiva identity-markers (vibhūti) and the auspiciousness of approaching Himālaya for the divine wedding.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Kālañjara
• Himālaya

FAQs

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

It portrays auspicious movement and holy association: even mighty sacred places and beings are drawn, in joy and devotion, toward the Himālaya—hinting that proximity to Shaiva sanctity and devotion elevates all who come with reverence.

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

The mention of bhasma-bearing attendants points to Shaiva external marks (Tripuṇḍra/bhasma) that support Saguna Shiva worship—devotional approach to Shiva through symbols of renunciation, purity, and surrender while honoring Shiva’s transcendent nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests the Shaiva practice of honoring bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) with devotion—wearing or offering sacred ash as a reminder of impermanence and as a devotional aid while remembering Shiva (often alongside japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).