Shloka 4

दुर्गोपवीत-रचना तथा शिवामलङ्कारोत्सवः | The Making of the Durgopavīta and Pārvatī’s Auspicious Adornment Festival

Devanagari script

प्रथमं स्नापयित्वा तां भूषयित्वाथ सर्वशः । नीराजिता सखीभिश्च विप्रपत्नीभिरेव च

Transliteration

prathamaṃ snāpayitvā tāṃ bhūṣayitvātha sarvaśaḥ | nīrājitā sakhībhiśca viprapatnībhireva ca

Translation

First they bathed her and then adorned her in every way. Thereafter, her friends and the wives of the brāhmaṇas performed the auspicious ārati for her.

Word by Word

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (first/at first)

• स्नापयित्वा: having bathed (her) / having caused to bathe
• स्नापयित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त causative + क्त्वा (Gerund); √स्ना (स्नाने) → स्नापयति; क्त्वान्त-अव्यय

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भूषयित्वा: having adorned (her)
• भूषयित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भूष् (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त causative + क्त्वा (Gerund); √भूष् (अलङ्कारे) → भूषयति; क्त्वान्त-अव्यय

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then)

• सर्वशः: in every way
• सर्वशः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/परिमाणवाचक (entirely/in every way)

• नीराजिता: was honored with ārati
• नीराजिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+राज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; √राज् (दीप्तौ) उपसर्ग: नि; अर्थ: 'waved with lights/ārati performed'

• सखीभिः: by (her) friends
• सखीभिः: Kartr (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• विप्र-पत्नीभिः: by the Brahmin wives
• विप्र-पत्नीभिः: Kartr (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्ता), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (विप्रस्य पत्नी)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/निश्चयार्थक (indeed/just)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Parvati Khanda account to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it describes bridal purification (snāna) and auspicious honoring (nīrājana/ārati) performed by sakhīs and brāhmaṇa-wives—domestic-sacral rites surrounding Śivā.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Brahmin wives

FAQs

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

It highlights śuddhi (purification) and maṅgala (auspicious sanctification) before sacred union—outer bathing and adorning mirror the inner readiness of the soul (paśu) to approach the Lord (Pati) through purity and devotion.

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

Nirājana (ārati) is a Saguna mode of worship—offering light and auspicious attention to the Lord’s manifested presence; here the same devotional culture surrounds Pārvatī as she approaches her divine role alongside Śiva, reflecting how devotees honor the visible sacred with reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform maṅgala-kriyā: bathe, wear clean cloth, and offer a simple ārati (ghee lamp) with remembrance of Śiva—optionally reciting the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as a purification and dedication before worship.