Shloka 23

गौरीप्रवेशः—शिवसाक्षात्कारः

Gaurī’s Entry and the Vision of Śiva

Devanagari script

शृंगारभावसाराणां जन्मभूमिरकृत्रिमा । स्वभर्त्रा ललितन्तथ्यमुक्तं मत्वा स्मितोत्तरम्

Transliteration

śṛṃgārabhāvasārāṇāṃ janmabhūmirakṛtrimā | svabhartrā lalitantathyamuktaṃ matvā smitottaram

Translation

She—an uncontrived birthplace of the very essence of amorous sentiment—understood that her own lord had spoken a playful yet truthful remark, and she replied with a smile.

Word by Word

• śṛṅgāra-bhāva-sārāṇām: of the essences of amorous sentiments
• śṛṅgāra-bhāva-sārāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śṛṅgāra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + sāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (śṛṅgārasya bhāvaḥ; tasya sāraḥ)

• janma-bhūmiḥ: birthplace
• janma-bhūmiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (janmanaḥ bhūmiḥ)

• akṛtrimā: natural, unartificial
• akṛtrimā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-kṛtrima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम् (janmabhūmiḥ)

• sva-bhartrā: by her own husband
• sva-bhartrā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु—तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (svasya bhartā)

• lalitaṃ: charming, graceful
• lalitaṃ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lalita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम् (tathyam)

• tathyam: truth, factual statement
• tathyam: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tathya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• uktam: spoken, said
• uktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (धातु) → ukta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त/ktá); Neuter Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम् (tathyam)

• matvā: having thought/considered
• matvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकाले)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ktvā); अव्ययभावः—पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having considered)

• smita-uttaram: a smiling reply
• smita-uttaram: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smita (प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—कर्मधारयः (smitaṃ eva uttaram)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the account within the Vayu Samhita to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays the sacred, purified form of conjugal affection (śṛṅgāra) between Shiva and Parvati as natural and dharmic—an outward (saguṇa) expression that can refine the devotee’s heart toward devotion and steadiness on the path to liberation.

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

The verse highlights saguṇa intimacy and divine play (līlā) between Shiva and Parvati, which supports devotional contemplation of Shiva’s approachable form—often worshipped through the Linga as the accessible focus for reverence, surrender, and inner transformation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate gentle, truthful speech and loving devotion while doing Shiva worship—daily Linga-pūjā with bhasma (tripuṇḍra), rudrākṣa, and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering the mind’s emotions back to Shiva in purity.