Shloka 16

Devanagari script

धनुर्बाणौ तथा पद्म नानामूलफलानि च । चतुर्भिर्दधती हस्तैः प्रसन्नमुखपङ्कजा

Transliteration

dhanurbāṇau tathā padma nānāmūlaphalāni ca | caturbhirdadhatī hastaiḥ prasannamukhapaṅkajā

Translation

With four hands she held a bow and arrows, a lotus, and various roots and fruits; her lotus-like face was serene, radiant with gracious joy.

Word by Word

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• bāṇau: two arrows
• bāṇau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• tathā: also
• tathā: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चयद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunctive adverb: ‘also’)

• padmam: lotus
• padmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• nānā-mūla-phalāni: various roots and fruits
• nānā-mūla-phalāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nānā (अव्यय) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (नानाविधानि मूलानि फलानि च)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चयद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction: ‘and’)

• caturbhiḥ: with four
• caturbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण

• dadhatī: bearing / holding
• dadhatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धृ धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• hastaiḥ: with hands
• hastaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन

• prasanna-mukha-paṅkajā: she whose lotus-face is serene
• prasanna-mukha-paṅkajā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक) + paṅkaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समास (प्रसन्नं मुखं यस्याः सा)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Iconographic description of Devī’s manifested form (āyudha-dhāriṇī) rather than a liṅga-sthala narrative.

Significance: Supports dhyāna for Devī-upāsanā: visualizing her weapons and gifts as protection and nourishment for the world.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse presents the compassionate, accessible (saguṇa) form of the Divine Mother—serene-faced and beneficent—signifying grace that nourishes the bound soul (paśu) and guides it toward Shiva through devotion and purity.

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

By describing Uma’s auspicious iconography, the text supports saguṇa upāsanā alongside Linga worship: devotees approach Shiva through the gentle, grace-bestowing presence of Uma, who complements and reveals Shiva’s saving power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple devotional practice is implied: contemplate the serene lotus-faced Goddess while offering fruits (phala) with purity of mind, and pair it with Shiva-oriented remembrance such as japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).