Shloka 3

शिवलोकप्रवेशः

Entry into Śivaloka through successive gateways

Devanagari script

संप्राप्य प्रथमद्वारं विचित्रं गणसेवितम् । शोभितं परया लक्ष्म्या महोच्चमतिसुन्दरम्

Transliteration

saṃprāpya prathamadvāraṃ vicitraṃ gaṇasevitam | śobhitaṃ parayā lakṣmyā mahoccamatisundaram

Translation

Reaching the first gate—marvelous in design and attended by Śiva’s gaṇas—he saw it adorned with supreme splendor, exceedingly lofty and most beautiful.

Word by Word

• संप्राप्य: having reached
• संप्राप्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + प्र + आप् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त-अव्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समासिक-अव्यय (gerund): ‘having reached/attained’

• प्रथमद्वारम्: the first gate
• प्रथमद्वारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object) (of ‘having reached’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रथम + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (प्रथमं द्वारम्)

• विचित्रम्: wonderful, variegated
• विचित्रम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying द्वारम्)

• गणसेवितम्: attended by the gaṇas
• गणसेवितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गण + सेवित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (गणैः सेवितम्) ‘served/attended by the gaṇas’

• शोभितम्: adorned
• शोभितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ्/शोभ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘adorned’

• परया: supreme, excellent
• परया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying लक्ष्म्या)

• लक्ष्म्या: by splendor/fortune (Lakṣmī)
• लक्ष्म्या: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महाउच्चम्: very lofty
• महाउच्चम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + उच्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् उच्चः), विशेषण

• अतिसुन्दरम्: exceedingly beautiful
• अतिसुन्दरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय-उपसर्गवत्) + सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अतिशयेन सुन्दरम्), विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

The “first gate” signifies entering a sanctified domain where the seeker approaches Pati (Shiva); the gaṇas represent divine guardianship and the ordered, protected nature of Shiva’s sacred presence, while “supreme splendor” indicates the auspicious power of Shiva’s realm that elevates the devotee’s mind toward devotion and reverence.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva’s manifest majesty—His abode marked by beauty, height, and auspicious radiance—mirroring how devotees approach the Liṅga through consecrated boundaries (temple gateways, sanctum thresholds) that prepare the mind for darśana and worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests a preparatory approach: enter the shrine or worship-space with purity and focused reverence—mentally bowing at the “threshold”—and steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before proceeding inward.