Shloka 34

मेना-शिवदर्शन-प्रस्थानम् | Menā’s Quest to Behold Śiva

Departure for Śiva’s Darśana

Devanagari script

कोटिकन्दर्प्यलावण्यः पीताम्बरधरस्स्वराट् । राजीवलोचनश्शान्तः पक्षीन्द्रवरवाहनः

Transliteration

koṭikandarpyalāvaṇyaḥ pītāmbaradharassvarāṭ | rājīvalocanaśśāntaḥ pakṣīndravaravāhanaḥ

Translation

He bears a beauty that outshines millions of Kāma-devas; clad in yellow garments, self-sovereign and radiant. Lotus-eyed and perfectly tranquil, He is borne upon the supreme lord of birds.

Word by Word

• koṭi-kandarpa-lāvaṇyaḥ: having beauty like crores of Cupids
• koṭi-kandarpa-lāvaṇyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: koṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + kandarpa (प्रातिपदिक) + lāvaṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); samāsa: koṭi-kandarpa-sadṛśa-lāvaṇyaḥ (having beauty like crores of Kandarpa)

• pīta-ambara-dharaḥ: wearer of yellow garments
• pīta-ambara-dharaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīta (प्रातिपदिक) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; samāsa: pītam ambaram dharati iti (one who wears yellow garments)

• svarāṭ: sovereign, self-ruler
• svarāṭ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarāṭ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; irregular stem svarāṭ (sovereign)

• rājīva-locanaḥ: lotus-eyed
• rājīva-locanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rājīva (प्रातिपदिक) + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: rājīvāni locanāni yasya saḥ (he whose eyes are lotus-like)

• śāntaḥ: peaceful, tranquil
• śāntaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (प्रातिपदिक; from √śam (धातु) as past participle)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; kṛdanta: bhūtakṛdanta (past passive participle/क्त) from √śam (शम्) ‘to be calm’

• pakṣi-indra-vara-vāhanaḥ: whose mount is the best king of birds (Garuḍa)
• pakṣi-indra-vara-vāhanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pakṣin (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक) + vāhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; samāsa: pakṣiṇām indraḥ (garuḍa) sa eva varaḥ, tasya vāhanam yasya saḥ (one whose vehicle is the best of bird-kings)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, within the Rudra Saṃhitā account)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuḍa
• Kāma (Kandarpa)

FAQs

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

The verse presents a Saguna (personal, contemplable) vision marked by śānti (tranquility) and sovereignty, guiding the devotee to see divinity as beauty beyond desire and as the source of inner stillness—an aid to bhakti that culminates in liberation.

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

Though describing a divine form with attributes, it supports the Shiva Purana’s broader method: Saguna contemplation steadies the mind and purifies devotion, which can then be directed to Shiva—both as the Linga (symbol of the transcendent) and as the gracious, manifest Lord who grants śānti and mokṣa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on the lotus-eyed, tranquil Lord to cultivate śānti; accompany it with Shaiva practice such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and, if initiated, Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness in devotion.