Shloka 23

कामविवाहवर्णनम् / Description of Kāma’s Marriage

Devanagari script

नीलनीरदसंकाशः केशपाशो मनोहरः । चमरीवाल भरवद्विभाति स्म स्मरप्रियः

Transliteration

nīlanīradasaṃkāśaḥ keśapāśo manoharaḥ | camarīvāla bharavadvibhāti sma smarapriyaḥ

Translation

His hair-tresses were enchanting, dark and lustrous like a blue rain-cloud. Adorned with a splendid yak-tail fan, he shone forth—one who was dear to Kāma (the god of love).

Word by Word

• नील-नीरद-संकाशः: resembling a dark-blue cloud
• नील-नीरद-संकाशः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + नीरद (प्रातिपदिक) + संकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (nīlaḥ nīradaḥ iva saṃkāśaḥ)

• केश-पाशः: the mass/tress of hair
• केश-पाशः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक) + पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (keśānāṃ pāśaḥ)

• मनोहरः: charming
• मनोहरः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण

• चमरी-वालः: yak-tail (chamara) tuft
• चमरी-वालः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चमरी (प्रातिपदिक) + वाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (camarīyāḥ vālaḥ)

• भरवत्: as if heavy/abundant
• भरवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भरवत् (प्रातिपदिक; वत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः/विशेषणम्; नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनरूपम् (here used adverbially: ‘as if heavy/abundant’)

• विभाति: shines, appears splendid
• विभाति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• स्म: indeed/then (particle)
• स्म: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; भूतार्थ/स्मरणार्थ-निपातः (particle indicating past/indeed)

• स्मर-प्रियः: dear to Kāma (the god of love)
• स्मर-प्रियः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (smarasya priyaḥ)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Kama (Smara)

FAQs

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

The verse uses sacred aesthetics—cloud-dark, radiant hair and auspicious adornment—to draw the mind into dhyāna (contemplative vision). In Shaiva Siddhanta, such saguna (with attributes) description helps the bound soul (paśu) turn from restless desire toward devotion to Pati (Shiva), the Lord who ultimately transcends all attributes.

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

While the Linga signifies Shiva’s transcendent reality, verses like this support saguna-upāsanā—visualizing the compassionate, auspicious form to steady the heart in bhakti. The devotee may worship the Linga while inwardly contemplating Shiva’s divine presence and beauty, letting form lead the mind toward the formless.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna during japa: recite the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and visualize Shiva’s serene, cloud-dark radiance, allowing desire (smara) to be purified into devotion. If performing pūjā, offer a symbolic fan (cāmara) or simply fan the lamp as an act of reverent service.