Shloka 21

Śumbha–Niśumbha-pīḍā and Devastuti to Durgā/Śivā

Names and Forms of the Devī

Devanagari script

कुरुते पादसंवाहं काचित्संस्कुरुते कचान् । पाणिसंवाहनं काचित्काचिन्नेत्राञ्जनं न्यधात्

Transliteration

kurute pādasaṃvāhaṃ kācitsaṃskurute kacān | pāṇisaṃvāhanaṃ kācitkācinnetrāñjanaṃ nyadhāt

Translation

One attendant massaged her feet; another arranged and dressed her hair. One gently rubbed her hands, and another applied añjana (collyrium) to her eyes.

Word by Word

• कुरुते: does
• कुरुते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पाद-संवाहम्: foot-massage
• पाद-संवाहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + संवाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पादानां संवाहः)

• काचित्: some (woman)
• काचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काचित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite pronoun)

• संस्कुरुते: adorns / arranges
• संस्कुरुते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• कचान्: hair (locks)
• कचान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• पाणि-संवाहनम्: hand-massage
• पाणि-संवाहनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक) + संवाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पाणीनां संवाहनम्)

• काचित्: some (woman)
• काचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काचित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक

• काचित्: some (other woman)
• काचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काचित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक

• नेत्र-अञ्जनम्: collyrium for the eyes
• नेत्र-अञ्जनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नेत्रयोः अञ्जनम्)

• न्यधात्: applied / placed
• न्यधात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + धा (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/Imperfective past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It portrays reverent seva (devotional service) offered to the Divine Mother, showing that disciplined, loving attendance to the Saguna form nurtures humility and bhakti that purify the soul.

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

In Shaiva practice, honoring Uma (Shakti) is inseparable from honoring Shiva; service to the Divine in a personal (Saguna) mode supports steadiness of devotion that culminates in deeper realization of Shiva-tattva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests a bhakti-oriented attitude of upachara (respectful service) in puja—cleanliness, careful adornment, and mindful attention—performed while remembering Shiva and Uma with mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara.