Shloka 34

शिवसतीविवाहोत्तरलीला — Post‑marital Līlā of Śiva and Satī

Devanagari script

नागकेशरवृक्षाश्च स्वर्णवर्णैः प्रसूनकैः । बभुर्मदनकेत्वाभा मनोज्ञाश्शंकरांतिके

Transliteration

nāgakeśaravṛkṣāśca svarṇavarṇaiḥ prasūnakaiḥ | babhurmadanaketvābhā manojñāśśaṃkarāṃtike

Translation

Near Śaṅkara, nāgakeśara trees—adorned with golden-hued blossoms—shone forth, delightful to behold, radiant like the banner of Kāma, the god of love.

Word by Word

• नागकेशरवृक्षाः: nāgakeśara trees
• नागकेशरवृक्षाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागकेशर + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘नागकेशरस्य वृक्षाः’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Samuccaya)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्वर्णवर्णैः: golden-colored
• स्वर्णवर्णैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; qualifier of प्रसूनकैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्णवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘स्वर्ण इव वर्णः’

• प्रसूनकैः: with flowers
• प्रसूनकैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसूनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• बभुः: were/appeared
• बभुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• मदनकेतु-आभाः: having the splendor of Madana’s banner
• मदनकेतु-आभाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदनकेतु + आभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘मदनकेतोरिव आभा येषाम्’

• मनोज्ञाः: delightful
• मनोज्ञाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• शङ्कर-अन्तिके: near Śaṅkara
• शङ्कर-अन्तिके: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर + अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘शङ्करस्य अन्तिके’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Madana (Kama)

FAQs

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

It shows that proximity to Śiva (Śaṅkara) naturally manifests auspiciousness and beauty; in Shaiva thought, the Lord’s presence purifies and elevates perception, turning the world into a sacred field for devotion (bhakti) and inner clarity.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Śiva experienced with qualities and presence—where the devotee’s environment and mind become refined through nearness and reverence, mirroring how a temple around the Liṅga becomes a sanctified space for darśana and worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Create a pure, beautiful worship space (flowers, cleanliness), then practice Śiva-dhyāna with the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), training the mind to see all auspiciousness as arising in the Lord’s presence.