Shloka 13

महेश्वरागमनं तथा नीराजन-सत्कारवर्णनम् / The Arrival of Maheśvara and the Rite of Welcome

Nīrājana

Devanagari script

नीराजनं चकारासौ प्रफुल्लवदना सती । अवलोकपरा तत्र मेना जामातरं मुदा

Transliteration

nīrājanaṃ cakārāsau praphullavadanā satī | avalokaparā tatra menā jāmātaraṃ mudā

Translation

With a face blossoming in joy, that noble lady performed the nīrājana (ārati). There, Menā—absorbed in gazing—looked upon her son-in-law with delight.

Word by Word

• nīrājanam: ārati, ceremonial waving of lights
• nīrājanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīrājana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• cakāra: did, performed
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद; सकर्मक

• asau: she (that lady)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• praphullavadanā: with a blooming face
• praphullavadanā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praphulla + vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण

• satī: the virtuous lady (Satī)
• satī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); नाम/उपाधि

• avalokaparā: intent on looking
• avalokaparā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avaloka + parā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (engaged in looking)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• menā: Menā
• menā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: menā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• jāmātaram: son-in-law
• jāmātaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāmātar (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• mudā: with joy
• mudā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular); भाववाचक (abstract)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Menā
• Pārvatī
• Śiva

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti expressed through nīrājana (ārati) and darśana—joyful, reverent beholding of Śiva—showing that loving worship in the home can be a direct expression of devotion to Pati (the Lord).

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

Ārati is a Saguna-upāsanā act—honoring Śiva as personally present and worthy of hospitality and worship; the same reverence is extended in temples to the Śiva-liṅga through lamps, offerings, and attentive darśana.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform nīrājana/ārati with a steady mind and joyful devotion, then take a moment of focused darśana—silently remembering Śiva (often with the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while offering inner reverence.