Shloka 23

Gṛhapati’s Vow: Turning Grief into Mṛtyuñjaya–Mahākāla Sādhana (गृहपतेः प्रतिज्ञा—मृत्युंजय-महाकालजपः)

Devanagari script

स्वर्धुन्या हारयष्ट्येव राजिता कण्ठभूमिषु । विचित्रगुणशालिन्या हरपत्न्या विराजिताम्

Transliteration

svardhunyā hārayaṣṭyeva rājitā kaṇṭhabhūmiṣu | vicitraguṇaśālinyā harapatnyā virājitām

Translation

Upon the region of her neck, she shone as though adorned with a garland-staff of the celestial Gaṅgā; thus the consort of Hara, endowed with wondrous virtues, appeared resplendent.

Word by Word

• स्वर्धुन्या: by/with the celestial river (Gaṅgā)
• स्वर्धुन्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्धुनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सह), एकवचन — Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• हार-यष्ट्या: with a necklace-staff/rod (ornamental staff)
• हार-यष्ट्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हार (प्रातिपदिक) + यष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Feminine, Instrumental, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (हारस्य यष्टिः)

• इव: as if, like
• इव: Sambandha/Upamā (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय — indeclinable of comparison

• राजिता: adorned, shining
• राजिता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजित (कृदन्त; √राज् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Singular; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• कण्ठ-भूमिषु: on the neck-regions
• कण्ठ-भूमिषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन — Feminine, Locative, Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कण्ठस्य भूमिः)

• विचित्र-गुण-शालिन्या: by the one possessing wondrous qualities
• विचित्र-गुण-शालिन्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + शालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Feminine, Instrumental, Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (विचित्राः गुणाः यस्याः सा)

• हर-पत्न्या: by Hara’s consort (Pārvatī)
• हर-पत्न्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Feminine, Instrumental, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (हरस्य पत्नी)

• विराजिताम्: (her) who was made resplendent/adorned
• विराजिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विराजित (कृदन्त; √राज् (धातु) + वि + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Feminine, Accusative, Singular; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: In Kāśī’s sacred ambit, the divine couple’s splendor is evoked: Hara’s consort appears radiant, ornamented as if by the celestial Gaṅgā—linking Kāśī’s Gaṅgā-tīrtha sanctity with Śiva’s household (Umā-Maheśvara).

Significance: Contemplation of Umā-Maheśvara in Kāśī integrates bhoga and mokṣa: devotion to the divine couple purifies and stabilizes the mind for Viśvanātha-darśana.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Ganga

FAQs

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

The verse praises the Goddess as Hara’s consort whose outer radiance reflects inner spiritual excellences (guṇas), teaching that devotion recognizes the Divine through both virtue and sacred symbolism.

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

By glorifying Hara together with his Śakti (Harapatnī), it reinforces Saguna worship in the Shiva Purana—approaching Shiva with form and attributes, where the Goddess’s splendor supports and completes the vision of Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A devotional dhyāna: contemplate Shiva with his consort and sacred emblems (like Gaṅgā’s purity), and pair it with mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to cultivate purity and bhakti.