Shloka 20

Śumbha–Niśumbha-pīḍā and Devastuti to Durgā/Śivā

Names and Forms of the Devī

Devanagari script

हिमवच्छिखरे रम्ये संस्थिता सिंहवाहिनी । समन्ताद्देवकन्याभिः सेविता बद्धपाणिभिः

Transliteration

himavacchikhare ramye saṃsthitā siṃhavāhinī | samantāddevakanyābhiḥ sevitā baddhapāṇibhiḥ

Translation

Upon a lovely peak of the Himālaya stood the Goddess, the Lion-rider, attended on all sides by celestial maidens who served her with palms joined in reverent devotion.

Word by Word

• हिमवत्-शिखरे: on the peak of Himavat
• हिमवत्-शिखरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + शिखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘हिमवतः शिखरम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• रम्ये: beautiful
• रम्ये: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; adjective qualifying ‘शिखरे’

• संस्थिता: was stationed/standing
• संस्थिता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle) with उपसर्ग सम्; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सिंहवाहिनी: she who has a lion as her mount
• सिंहवाहिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + वाहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative): ‘सिंहः वाहनं यस्याः/या’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• समन्तात्: on all sides
• समन्तात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘from all sides/around’

• देवकन्याभिः: by celestial maidens
• देवकन्याभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘देवानां कन्याः’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• सेविता: was attended/served
• सेविता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बद्धपाणिभिः: by (those) with folded hands
• बद्धपाणिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √बन्ध्) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘बद्धाः पाणयः येषाम्’; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: Himālaya as Śiva’s abode; Kedāra tradition remembers Śiva’s Himalayan presence and grace-bestowal to seekers. This verse’s Himalayan peak setting resonates with the Kedāra-kṣetra imagination (not a direct Jyotirliṅga etiology in this śloka).

Significance: Darśana in the Himalayan kṣetra is held to confer purification and Śiva’s anugraha; the mountain setting signifies tapas and proximity to the divine.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It presents the Goddess in a tangible, worship-worthy (saguṇa) form, showing that reverent service and humility—symbolized by folded hands—purify the devotee and prepare the soul (paśu) to receive Śiva’s grace through right devotion.

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

By depicting devoted attendance around the Goddess, the verse reinforces saguṇa upāsanā—approaching the Divine through form, presence, and service. In Shaiva practice, such devotion naturally extends to Linga worship, where outer reverence supports inner surrender to Śiva as Pati (the Lord).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice añjali (folded-palms salutation) with focused mind during pūjā, and cultivate sevā-bhāva (the attitude of reverent service). This can be paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” to steady devotion.