Shloka 24

कामविवाहवर्णनम् / Description of Kāma’s Marriage

Devanagari script

एतादृशीं रतिं नाम्ना प्रालेयाद्रिसमुद्भवाम् । गंगामिव महादेवो जग्राहोत्फुल्ललोचनः

Transliteration

etādṛśīṃ ratiṃ nāmnā prāleyādrisamudbhavām | gaṃgāmiva mahādevo jagrāhotphullalocanaḥ

Translation

Thus, Mahādeva—his eyes wide with joy—accepted that maiden named Rati, born of the snowy mountain, just as he had accepted the river Gaṅgā.

Word by Word

• एतादृशीम्: such, of this kind
• एतादृशीम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• रतिम्: Rati (name/person)
• रतिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental of ‘name’

• प्रालेय-अद्रि-समुद्भवाम्: born from the हिमालय (snow-mountain)
• प्रालेय-अद्रि-समुद्भवाम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रालेय (प्रातिपदिक) + अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + समुद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (prāleyādreḥ samudbhavā)

• गङ्गाम्: Ganga
• गङ्गाम्: उपमान (Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक-निपातः (comparative particle)

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (mahān devaḥ)

• जग्राह: took, accepted
• जग्राह: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• उत्फुल्ल-लोचनः: whose eyes were wide-open/blooming
• उत्फुल्ल-लोचनः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्फुल्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (yasya locane utphulle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganga

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as the compassionate Pati (Lord) who freely accepts and sanctifies what approaches him—his gracious acceptance is the root of purification and liberation for beings who take refuge in him.

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

The verse portrays Saguna Śiva’s personal, relational grace—devotees worship the Liṅga as the accessible form of that same Mahādeva whose presence receives, transforms, and uplifts the devotee.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate śaraṇāgati (surrender) to Śiva through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” paired with simple Liṅga-pūjā (water/abhisheka) as an inner offering of oneself to his accepting grace.