Shloka 32

शिवसतीविवाहोत्तरलीला — Post‑marital Līlā of Śiva and Satī

Devanagari script

संध्यार्द्रचन्द्रसंकाशाः पलाशाश्च विरेजिरे । कामास्त्रवत्सुमनसः प्रमोदात्पादपाधरः

Transliteration

saṃdhyārdracandrasaṃkāśāḥ palāśāśca virejire | kāmāstravatsumanasaḥ pramodātpādapādharaḥ

Translation

Palāśa blossoms gleamed, like the moon softened by twilight. In delight, those lovely flowers—like Kāma’s arrows—adorned the trees and their branches.

Word by Word

• saṃdhyā-ārdra-candra-saṃkāśāḥ: resembling the moon moist with twilight
• saṃdhyā-ārdra-candra-saṃkāśāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of palāśāḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃdhyā (प्रातिपदिक) + ārdra (प्रातिपदिक) + candra (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (determinative)

• palāśāḥ: palāśa blossoms/leaves
• palāśāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: palāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• virejire: shone forth
• virejire: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rāj (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural; Parasmaipada

• kāma-astra-vat: like the weapon of Kāma
• kāma-astra-vat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + astra (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Comparative indeclinable (उपमानवाचक अव्यय) formed with -vat; ‘like Kāma’s weapon’

• su-manasaḥ: beautiful/pleasant-minded (lovely)
• su-manasaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of palāśāḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; कर्मधारयः (‘good’ + ‘minded/heart’)

• pramodāt: from joy; due to delight
• pramodāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramoda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; cause/source sense (हेतु/निमित्त)

• pāda-pādharaḥ: the foot-support/footstool (base at the feet)
• pāda-pādharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + pādhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (pāda-sambandhī pādharaḥ)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Kama

FAQs

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

The verse uses resplendent flowers and moonlike beauty to show how the world can appear enchanting, yet in Shaiva Siddhanta such beauty is ultimately a passing display within māyā; the devotee learns to appreciate creation while directing the heart toward Pati (Shiva), the enduring Reality.

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

By portraying the sensory charm of nature as ‘Kāma’s arrows,’ the text implicitly contrasts outward attraction with inward devotion; Linga-worship trains the mind to move from fleeting forms to Saguna Shiva’s grace-filled presence, and onward to steadiness in the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is pratyāhāra (withdrawing the senses) supported by japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—so that attraction to beauty becomes remembrance of Shiva rather than distraction.