Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 12

पूजाविधान-व्याख्या (Pūjāvidhāna-vyākhyā) — Exposition of the Procedure of Worship

Devanagari script

नीलोत्पलदलप्रख्यां चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम् । अतिवृत्तघनोत्तुंगस्निग्धपीनपयोधराम्

Transliteration

nīlotpaladalaprakhyāṃ candrārdhakṛtaśekharām | ativṛttaghanottuṃgasnigdhapīnapayodharām

Translation

She shone like the petal of a blue lotus, adorned with the crescent moon as her diadem; her bosom was exceedingly full—rounded, lofty, dense, smooth, and firm—radiant with auspicious beauty.

Word by Word

• नीलोत्पलदलप्रख्याम्: resembling a blue-lotus petal
• नीलोत्पलदलप्रख्याम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील-उत्पल-दल-प्रख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—नीलोत्पलस्य दलस्य इव प्रख्या/सदृशी (resembling a blue-lotus petal)

• चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्: wearing the half-moon as a crest
• चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र-अर्ध-कृत-शेखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—चन्द्रस्य अर्धेन कृतः शेखरः यस्याः (having a crest made of the half-moon)

• अतिवृत्तघनोत्तुङ्गस्निग्धपीनपयोधराम्: with very round, compact, high, smooth, full breasts
• अतिवृत्तघनोत्तुङ्गस्निग्धपीनपयोधराम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति-वृत्त-घन-उत्तुङ्ग-स्निग्ध-पीन-पयोधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-समासः—अतिवृत्ताः (very round) घनाः (compact) उत्तुङ्गाः (high) स्निग्धाः (smooth/glossy) पीनाः (full) पयोधराः (breasts) यस्याः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It contemplates the Goddess’s auspicious, luminous form—Shakti—through which the devotee’s mind becomes steady and refined, supporting devotion and inner purity on the path to Shiva.

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

By praising the visible, grace-filled form of the Goddess, it strengthens saguna-bhakti; in Shaiva Siddhanta, devotion to Shakti naturally culminates in devotion to Shiva, the Pati, whose presence is worshiped as both form and Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple dhyāna (visual meditation) on the Goddess’s auspicious form before japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) helps fix the mind and deepen devotion.