Shloka 57

कैलासगमनं कुबेरसख्यं च — Śiva’s Journey to Kailāsa and His Friendship with Kubera

Devanagari script

क्व सा पर्वतदेशीया चन्द्रकांतिरिवाद्भुता । दीपकव्यग्रहस्ताग्रालंकृता शालभञ्जिका

Transliteration

kva sā parvatadeśīyā candrakāṃtirivādbhutā | dīpakavyagrahastāgrālaṃkṛtā śālabhañjikā

Translation

Where is that wondrous śālabhañjikā—born of the mountain-land—whose beauty is astonishing, like the radiance of the moonstone, and whose outstretched hands are adorned as though intent on holding a lamp?

Word by Word

• क्व: where
• क्व: सम्बन्ध/प्रश्न (interrogative locator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: where?)

• सा: she/that (woman)
• सा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• पर्वत-देशीया: from the mountain region
• पर्वत-देशीया: विशेषण (qualifier of सा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक) + देशीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• चन्द्र-कान्तिः: moonlight / moon’s radiance
• चन्द्र-कान्तिः: उपमान/उपमेय-सम्बन्ध (standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा-सूचक (comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• अद्भुता: wonderful
• अद्भुता: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of सा)

• दीपक-व्यग्र-हस्त-अग्र-अलंकृता: adorned at the tip of her hand, busily holding a lamp
• दीपक-व्यग्र-हस्त-अग्र-अलंकृता: विशेषण (qualifier of शालभञ्जिका/सा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीपक (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अलंकृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √अलंकृ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘अलंकृता’ = adorned; समासेन विशेषणम्

• शालभञ्जिका: a śālabhañjikā (decorative female figure/statue)
• शालभञ्जिका: कर्ता/विधेय (subject/predicate apposition to सा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालभञ्जिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, within the Rudra Saṃhitā creation-context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

FAQs

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

It highlights the mind’s astonishment before created beauty, implying that even the most exquisite forms are objects within creation; the Shaiva Siddhānta lens encourages moving from fascination with form toward devotion to Pati (Śiva), the source and lord of all manifested splendour.

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

The verse contrasts crafted, captivating forms with the deeper sacred focus of Śaiva worship: in Saguna devotion one honors divine beauty, yet the Liṅga points beyond all ornamented appearances to Śiva as the inner reality—inviting the devotee to steady attention on the Lord rather than on merely aesthetic marvels.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is pratyāhāra-like restraint: observe beauty without attachment, then redirect the mind to japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) or contemplation of the Liṅga as the stable center amid the changing wonders of creation.