Shloka 43

शिवसतीविवाहोत्तरलीला — Post‑marital Līlā of Śiva and Satī

Devanagari script

तस्या कुसुममालाभिर्भूषयन्सकलां तनुम् । स्वहस्तरचिताभिस्तु नवशर्माकरोच्च सः

Transliteration

tasyā kusumamālābhirbhūṣayansakalāṃ tanum | svahastaracitābhistu navaśarmākarocca saḥ

Translation

Adorning her entire body with garlands of flowers—garlands woven by his own hands—Śiva awakened in her ever-new delight and auspicious joy.

Word by Word

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• kusuma-mālābhiḥ: with flower-garlands
• kusuma-mālābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kusuma (प्रातिपदिक) + mālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘कुसुमानां माला’

• bhūṣayan: adorning
• bhūṣayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhūṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान-कृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘adorning’

• sakalām: entire
• sakalām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies tanum

• tanum: body
• tanum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sva-hasta-racitābhiḥ: with (garlands) made by his own hand
• sva-hasta-racitābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक) + racita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘स्वहस्तेन रचिताः’ (made by (his) own hand)

• tu: and/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• nava-śarmā: new delight/comfort
• nava-śarmā: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक) + śarman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारय: ‘नवं शर्म’ (new comfort/joy)

• akarot: made/caused
• akarot: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; finite verb

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Satīkhaṇḍa account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti expressed as tender seva: Shiva’s own hand-made garlands symbolize that sincere, personal devotion—offered with love—creates “nava-śarma,” ever-renewed auspicious joy, reflecting the gracious, Saguna (personal) aspect of Pati (Shiva).

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

Although the scene is personal (Shiva adorning Sati), the same devotional principle applies to Linga worship: offerings like flowers and garlands become meaningful when made and offered with one’s own effort and reverence to Saguna Shiva, who compassionately accepts simple upacāras.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer fresh flowers or a self-made mala to Shiva (or the Shiva-Linga) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating the inner attitude of loving service rather than mere formality.