Shloka 21

कामविवाहवर्णनम् / Description of Kāma’s Marriage

Devanagari script

तस्याः करयुगं रक्तं नखरैः किंशुकोपमैः । वृत्ताभिरंगुलीभिश्च सूक्ष्माग्राभिर्मनोहरम्

Transliteration

tasyāḥ karayugaṃ raktaṃ nakharaiḥ kiṃśukopamaiḥ | vṛttābhiraṃgulībhiśca sūkṣmāgrābhirmanoharam

Translation

Her pair of hands was rosy-red; her nails resembled the blossoms of the kiṃśuka tree. With rounded fingers and delicate, tapering tips, they were utterly enchanting to behold.

Word by Word

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कर-युगम्: pair of hands
• कर-युगम्: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (pair of hands)

• रक्तम्: red
• रक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (agreeing with कर-युगम्)

• नखरैः: with nails
• नखरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), बहुवचन

• किंशुक-उपमैः: resembling kiṃśuka blossoms
• किंशुक-उपमैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किंशुक (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (like kiṃśuka flowers)

• वृत्ताभिः: rounded
• वृत्ताभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (agreeing with अङ्गुलीभिः)

• अङ्गुलीभिः: with fingers
• अङ्गुलीभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• सूक्ष्म-अग्राभिः: with delicate tips
• सूक्ष्म-अग्राभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (having delicate tips)

• मनोहरम्: charming
• मनोहरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (agreeing with कर-युगम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Sati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

By describing Satī’s auspicious limbs in vivid detail, the Purana supports saguna-upāsanā: devotion to the Lord and His Śakti in a form that the mind can lovingly contemplate, turning aesthetic perception into reverent bhakti.

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

Satī is Śiva’s Śakti; meditating on her auspicious form strengthens devotion to Śiva as the Pati (Lord) inseparable from Śakti. Such saguna contemplation naturally culminates in steadiness of worship—whether toward the Liṅga (symbolic) or the divine couple (personal form).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna (devotional visualization): calmly contemplate the auspicious form of Śiva-Śakti while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” allowing the mind to become one-pointed and pure.