Shloka 17

कामविवाहवर्णनम् / Description of Kāma’s Marriage

Devanagari script

गम्भीरनाभिरंध्रांतश्चतुःपार्श्वत्वगादृतम् । आननाब्जेऽक्षणद्वंद्वमारक्तकफलं यथा

Transliteration

gambhīranābhiraṃdhrāṃtaścatuḥpārśvatvagādṛtam | ānanābje'kṣaṇadvaṃdvamāraktakaphalaṃ yathā

Translation

Her navel was deep, and its hollow was gracefully framed by the skin on the four sides. Upon her lotus-like face, her pair of eyes shone with a reddish hue—like the ripened fruit of the kāphala tree.

Word by Word

• गम्भीर: deep
• गम्भीर: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम्भीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; (in compound-base)

• नाभि: navel
• नाभि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, (in compound-base)

• रन्ध्र: cavity, hollow
• रन्ध्र: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रन्ध्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, (in compound-base)

• अन्तः: inside
• अन्तः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तः (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययीभाव-पूर्वपदभाव (adverbial ‘inside’) used in compound

• चतुः: four
• चतुः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषण; (in compound-base)

• पार्श्व: side, flank
• पार्श्व: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, (in compound-base)

• त्वक्: skin
• त्वक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वच्/त्वक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, (in compound-base)

• आदृतम्: covered/filled
• आदृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + दृ (धातु) / आदृत (प्रातिपदिक; क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘covered/filled/occupied’ (contextual)

• आननाब्जे: in the lotus-face
• आननाब्जे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन (प्रातिपदिक) + अब्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय (‘lotus-like face’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अक्षणद्वन्द्वम्: the pair of eyes
• अक्षणद्वन्द्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (‘pair of eyes’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• आरक्त: reddish
• आरक्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आरक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; (in compound-base)

• कफलं: kaphala fruit
• कफलं: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कफलं/कप्फल (प्रातिपदिक; ‘kaphala’ fruit)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यथा: like, as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (comparative particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Sati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents Satī’s form as a manifestation of śakti—an auspicious, dharmic embodiment that draws the mind from ordinary attraction toward reverent contemplation (bhakti) of the divine presence supporting Shiva’s līlā.

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

In the Shiva Purana, Saguna contemplation refines devotion: honoring Satī’s divine marks supports focused worship of Shiva-with-Śakti, which culminates in steadiness of mind—an inner prerequisite for deeper Linga worship and realization of Shiva as Pati (the Lord).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

This verse primarily supports dhyāna (devotional visualization): meditate on the lotus-face and radiant eyes as auspicious signs, then anchor the mind in japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as the inward completion of the contemplation.