Shloka 14

Devanagari script

गिरिस्सगर्भां महिषीममंस्त धरणीमिव । निधानगर्भामभ्यन्तर्लीनवह्निं शमीमिव

Transliteration

girissagarbhāṃ mahiṣīmamaṃsta dharaṇīmiva | nidhānagarbhāmabhyantarlīnavahniṃ śamīmiva

Translation

They considered that queen to be like the earth bearing mountains in her womb—like Dharaṇī herself who upholds all. They deemed her to be like the śamī tree, holding a hidden treasure within, with fire concealed inside.

Word by Word

• giriḥ: the mountain
• giriḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sa-garbhām: pregnant/with embryo
• sa-garbhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + garbhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (sa- = ‘with’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying mahiṣīm)

• mahiṣīm: a buffalo-cow
• mahiṣīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahiṣī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• amaṃsta: considered/thought
• amaṃsta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (मन् धातु, ‘to think/consider’)
• Form: लङ् लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• dharaṇīm: the earth
• dharaṇīm: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-प्रदर्शक अव्यय (comparative particle)

• nidhānagarbhām: having treasure within
• nidhānagarbhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nidhāna+garbhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (nidhāna-garbha = ‘having treasure within’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying śamīm)

• abhyantar-līna-vahnim: with fire hidden within
• abhyantar-līna-vahnim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhyantara+līna+vahni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (abhyantar-līna = ‘hidden inside’ + vahni ‘fire’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying śamīm)

• śamīm: the śamī tree
• śamīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-प्रदर्शक अव्यय (comparative particle)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; the verse uses cosmic similes (earth-with-mountains, śamī-with-hidden-fire) to signal the concealed divinity (Śakti) about to manifest as Pārvatī.

Significance: Contemplation of the ‘hidden fire/treasure’ simile supports bhāvanā of the Divine immanent in the world (jagat as śakti-vyakti), fostering reverence for Umā’s advent.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse portrays the Goddess (as the royal lady/queen) as the womb of auspicious power—like earth holding mountains and like śamī hiding fire—teaching that divine Śakti may appear ordinary outwardly yet contains immense, veiled spiritual potency that supports dharma and leads devotees toward Shiva.

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

Just as fire can be hidden within wood, Shiva’s grace can be approached through Saguna forms and sacred supports (like the Liṅga). The imagery reinforces that the visible form is a vessel of the unseen Reality—Pati (Shiva) revealed through His Śakti and worshipped with faith.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the ‘hidden fire’ of consciousness within the heart while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and maintain outward purity and steadiness (as earth bears mountains) through simple Shaiva disciplines such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and daily mantra-japa.