Shloka 20

Devanagari script

नानासुगन्धसद्द्रव्यैर्वासितं सुप्रकाशकम् । चन्दनागुरुसंयुक्तं पुष्पशय्यासमन्वितम्

Transliteration

nānāsugandhasaddravyairvāsitaṃ suprakāśakam | candanāgurusaṃyuktaṃ puṣpaśayyāsamanvitam

Translation

It was perfumed with many kinds of fine, fragrant substances and shone with a splendid radiance. It was blended with sandal and agaru, and furnished with a bed of flowers.

Word by Word

• नाना: various
• नाना: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial/indeclinable) ‘विविध’ अर्थे; ‘सुगन्ध…’ इत्यस्य विशेषणार्थे

• सुगन्ध: fragrant
• सुगन्ध: विशेषण (modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुगन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समासाङ्ग), प्रथमा-बहुवचनार्थे समासपूर्वपद; ‘द्रव्य’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सत्: excellent
• सत्: विशेषण (modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; ‘उत्तम/श्रेष्ठ’ अर्थे; ‘द्रव्य’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• द्रव्यैः: with substances/materials
• द्रव्यैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• वासितम्: perfumed, scented
• वासितम्: कर्म-विशेषण (object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वास् (धातु) + णिच्; वासित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘(शिवलोकम्/गृहं)’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सुप्रकाशकम्: very luminous
• सुप्रकाशकम्: कर्म-विशेषण (object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-प्रकाशक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘सु’ उपसर्ग + ‘प्रकाशक’—कर्मधारय (very bright)

• चन्दन: sandalwood
• चन्दन: समासाङ्ग (compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; ‘चन्दन’ (sandalwood)

• अगुरु: aloeswood
• अगुरु: समासाङ्ग (compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; ‘अगुरु’ (aloeswood)

• संयुक्तम्: combined with
• संयुक्तम्: कर्म-विशेषण (object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-युज् (धातु) ; संयुक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘चन्दन-अगुरु’ इत्याभ्यां युक्तम्

• पुष्प: flowers
• पुष्प: समासाङ्ग (compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; ‘flower’

• शय्या: bed
• शय्या: समासाङ्ग (compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; स्त्रीलिङ्ग ‘bed’

• समन्वितम्: provided with, furnished with
• समन्वितम्: कर्म-विशेषण (object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-अन्वि-इ (धातु) ; समन्वित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘पुष्पशय्या’ इत्यनेन युक्तम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights sanctified preparation—purity, beauty, fragrance, and light—as outward symbols of inward devotion (bhakti) offered to the Lord. In Shaiva thought, such offerings train the mind toward sāttvika refinement and reverence for Pati (Shiva), the indwelling consciousness.

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

Sandalwood, agaru, flowers, and radiant adornment are classic upacāras of Saguna worship—honoring Shiva’s approachable form (including the Linga) through sensory offerings, while remembering that the Supreme remains beyond sense (nirguṇa) even as He accepts devotion through form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests orderly pūjā upacāras—gandha (sandal/agaru), puṣpa (flowers), and dīpa/tejas (radiance)—performed with mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating a steady, devotional mind.