Shloka 16

भोजन-आह्वान-प्रकरणम् — The Episode of Invitation and the Divine Feast

Devanagari script

रत्नप्रदीपशतकैर्ज्वलद्भिर्ज्वलितं श्रिया । रत्नपात्रघटाकीर्णं मुक्तामणिविराजितम्

Transliteration

ratnapradīpaśatakairjvaladbhirjvalitaṃ śriyā | ratnapātraghaṭākīrṇaṃ muktāmaṇivirājitam

Translation

It blazed with auspicious splendor, lit up by hundreds of radiant lamps made of jewels. It was filled with jewel-vessels and jars, and shone brilliantly with pearls and precious gems.

Word by Word

• रत्न-प्रदीप-शतकैः: with hundreds of jeweled lamps
• रत्न-प्रदीप-शतकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदीप (प्रातिपदिक) + शतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—(रत्नप्रदीपाणां शतकानि) इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष, तैः (instrumental)

• ज्वलद्भिः: blazing
• ज्वलद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle) ‘ज्वलत्’; पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (प्रदीपशतकैः) इत्यस्य विशेषण

• ज्वलितम्: illumined / lit up
• ज्वलितम्: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (गृहं/स्थानम्) इत्यादि नपुंसकस्य विशेषण

• श्रिया: by splendor
• श्रिया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रत्न-पात्र-घट-आकीर्णम्: filled with jeweled vessels and pots
• रत्न-पात्र-घट-आकीर्णम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + घट (प्रातिपदिक) + आकीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—रत्नमयैः पात्रैः घटैश्च आकीर्णम् (निर्धारणार्थे तत्पुरुष-प्रायः)

• मुक्ता-मणि-विराजितम्: adorned with pearls and gems
• मुक्ता-मणि-विराजितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + मणि (प्रातिपदिक) + विराजित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—मुक्तामणिभिः विराजितम् (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights “śrī” (auspicious splendor) as an outer sign of inner sanctity—when a space is dedicated to the Divine, it becomes radiant and orderly, supporting bhakti and elevating the mind toward Shiva-tattva.

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

Such descriptions frame Saguna worship: lamps, purity, and beautiful offerings prepare the devotee’s senses and attention for reverent approach to Shiva (often through the Linga) and to Shiva-Shakti together, where devotion becomes steady and concentrated.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer dīpa (lamp-light) and keep the worship area clean and auspicious; while lighting the lamp, silently repeat the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to unify outward offering with inward remembrance.