Shloka 16

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

Nīrājana

Devanagari script

महेशस्य सुलावण्यमनिर्वाच्यं च संप्रति । एवं विस्मयमापन्ना मेना स्वगृहमाययौ

Transliteration

maheśasya sulāvaṇyamanirvācyaṃ ca saṃprati | evaṃ vismayamāpannā menā svagṛhamāyayau

Translation

At that moment, Mahesha’s exquisite beauty was truly beyond description. Thus overwhelmed with wonder, Menā returned to her own home.

Word by Word

• महेशस्य: of Maheśa (Śiva)
• महेशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• सुलावण्यम्: excellent beauty
• सुलावण्यम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/उपपद) + लावण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; गुणवाचक संज्ञा

• अनिर्वाच्यम्: indescribable
• अनिर्वाच्यम्: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + वच् (धातु) → निर्वाच्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) with अ- (neg.)
• Form: कृदन्त; ण्यत्/यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive/expressible), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निषेधपूर्वक—'अवर्णनीय'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• संप्रति: now
• संप्रति: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saṃprati (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb: now/at present)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb: thus)

• विस्मयम्: astonishment
• विस्मयम्: Karma (कर्म/object—state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आपन्ना: having fallen into / having become
• आपन्ना: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + पद् (धातु) → आपन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग

• मेना: Menā
• मेना: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्वगृहम्: to her own house
• स्वगृहम्: Karma (कर्म/object—destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (स्वस्य गृहं)

• आययौ: went / returned
• आययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mena

FAQs

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

It highlights that Mahesha’s divine presence and beauty are anirvācya—beyond ordinary speech and mind—so the devotee’s natural response is vismaya (reverent wonder), a bhakti mood that softens ego and turns the heart toward Shiva.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva—Mahesha perceived with divine attributes—yet calls Him indescribable, indicating that even the manifest form points to a reality beyond concepts, which Linga-worship likewise symbolizes: the infinite Pati (Lord) accessible through sacred form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna with japa: contemplate Mahesha’s auspicious form while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” allowing the mind to rest in reverent wonder rather than analysis.