Shloka 5

Devanagari script

अहताम्बरयुग्मेन शोभिता वरवर्णिनी । विरराज महाशैलदुहिता शङ्करप्रिया

Transliteration

ahatāmbarayugmena śobhitā varavarṇinī | virarāja mahāśailaduhitā śaṅkarapriyā

Translation

Adorned with a pair of spotless garments, the splendid, radiant Lady shone forth—she, the daughter of the great mountain, beloved of Śaṅkara.

Word by Word

• अहत-अम्बर-युग्मेन: with a pair of unworn garments
• अहत-अम्बर-युग्मेन: Karana (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहत (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक) + युग्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; समासः—(अहतं च तत् अम्बरं) इति कर्मधारयः, ततः ‘अहताम्बर’ + ‘युग्म’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अहताम्बरयोः युग्मम्)

• शोभिता: adorned, beautified
• शोभिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—descriptive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘शोभिता’ = शोभित-आ (PPP)

• वर-वर्णिनी: the excellent-complexioned lady
• वर-वर्णिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्णिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘वरा च सा वर्णिनी’

• विरराज: shone brilliantly
• विरराज: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: राज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; √राज्—‘shone forth’

• महा-शैल-दुहिता: the daughter of the great mountain
• महा-शैल-दुहिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + शैल (प्रातिपदिक) + दुहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘महाशैलस्य दुहिता’

• शङ्कर-प्रिया: beloved of Śaṅkara
• शङ्कर-प्रिया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘शङ्करस्य प्रिया’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it poetically foregrounds Śivā’s bridal radiance—Mahāśaila-duhitā as Śaṅkara-priyā—signaling the auspicious imminence of Śiva-Śakti union.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse presents Pārvatī’s auspicious radiance and purity as an outer sign of inner śuddhi (purification), highlighting Śiva–Śakti harmony where devotion and divine grace manifest as spiritual splendor.

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

By calling her “Śaṅkara-priyā,” the text emphasizes Saguna worship—Śiva adored with attributes and relationships—where devotion to Śiva is naturally joined with reverence for Pārvatī (Śakti), the inseparable power of the Lord often honored alongside the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests cultivating purity and auspiciousness in worship—approaching Śiva with clean attire and a pure mind, and remembering Śiva–Śakti together while reciting the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).