Shloka 23

Śumbha–Niśumbha-pīḍā and Devastuti to Durgā/Śivā

Names and Forms of the Devī

Devanagari script

पतद्ग्रहं करे कृत्वा स्थिता काचित्सखी पुरः । भूषयत्यखिलांगानि काचिद्भूषाम्बरादिभिः

Transliteration

patadgrahaṃ kare kṛtvā sthitā kācitsakhī puraḥ | bhūṣayatyakhilāṃgāni kācidbhūṣāmbarādibhiḥ

Translation

One companion stood in front, holding a garment in her hand, while another adorned all her limbs with ornaments, fine clothing, and the like.

Word by Word

• पतद्-ग्रहम्: a falling-support (supporting cloth/holder)
• पतद्-ग्रहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतद् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, शतृ) + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पतद् = पतत् ‘falling’ इति विशेषणम्; पतद्ग्रहः = ‘catching/supporting (garment)’/‘fall-preventer’)

• करे: in the hand
• करे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made/placed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• स्थिता: standing
• स्थिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

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

• सखी: female friend/attendant
• सखी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; काचित् इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन (apposition)

• पुरः: in front
• पुरः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (spatial adverb: ‘in front’)

• भूषयति: adorns
• भूषयति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भूष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अखिल-अङ्गानि: all the limbs
• अखिल-अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (अखिलानि अङ्गानि)

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

• भूषा-अम्बर-आदिभिः: with ornaments, garments, etc.
• भूषा-अम्बर-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषा (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (भूषा च अम्बरं च आदयः च)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It portrays reverent preparation and auspiciousness—outer adornment reflecting inner purity and devotion. In Shaiva thought, such ordered, loving service becomes a support (upacāra) for bhakti that turns the mind toward Pati (Shiva) through the grace-filled presence of Umā.

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

The verse mirrors the devotional mood used in Saguna worship: just as the deity is honored with garments and ornaments in pūjā, Umā is attended with care. This highlights the Shiva Purana’s emphasis that tangible offerings can steady the mind and make it fit for deeper contemplation of Shiva beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests the principle of upacāra-pūjā—cultivating attentiveness and purity in worship. Practically, one may accompany such reverence with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple, sattvic preparation before Shiva-pūjā, especially on Mahāśivarātri.