Shloka 50

मेना-हिमालयसंवादः

Menā’s Counsel to Himālaya; Response to Slander of Śiva

Devanagari script

वितानानि विचित्राणि चैलवत्तोरणैस्सह । जलाशयान्यनेकानि दीर्घिका विविधाः स्थिताः

Transliteration

vitānāni vicitrāṇi cailavattoraṇaissaha | jalāśayānyanekāni dīrghikā vividhāḥ sthitāḥ

Translation

Había muchos doseles maravillosos y variados, junto con guirnaldas de tela y pórticos (toraṇa) como de paño; y había también numerosos depósitos de agua: estanques largos y tanques de diversas clases dispuestos por doquier.

Word by Word

• वितानानि: canopies/awnings
• वितानानि: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; item listed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वितान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विचित्राणि: variegated/ornate
• विचित्राणि: कर्तृविशेषण (subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying वितानानि)

• चैलवत्: cloth-like
• चैलवत्: करण/सहचर्य (Instrumental qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चैलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रत्ययान्त (वत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; 'like cloth' used adjectivally with तोरणैः

• तोरणैः: with festoons/arches
• तोरणैः: सहचर्य/करण (Instrumental; with सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: सहकारक (association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-योगे अव्यय (indeclinable meaning 'with'; governs instrumental)

• जलाशयानि: water-reservoirs
• जलाशयानि: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; item listed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल-आशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: जलस्य आशयः (reservoir of water)

• अनेकानि: many
• अनेकानि: कर्तृविशेषण (subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying जलाशयानि)

• दीर्घिकाः: long tanks/ponds
• दीर्घिकाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; item listed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीर्घिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विविधाः: various
• विविधाः: कर्तृविशेषण (subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying दीर्घिकाः)

• स्थिताः: were situated/placed
• स्थिताः: क्रिया (predicate; were situated)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अर्थ: were placed/stood

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Descriptive scene-setting of Himavat’s sacred city/abode: auspicious architecture (canopies, toraṇas) and tīrtha-like waterworks (ponds, tanks) indicating a divinely ordered kṣetra prepared for darśana and worship.

Significance: Kṣetra-darśana: entering a sanctified space where outer order (maṇḍala-like layout, water reservoirs) supports inner purification and receptivity to Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the sanctified arrangement of a sacred space—beautiful canopies, gateways, and pure water-reservoirs—symbolizing inner purification and orderly devotion offered to Pati (Shiva) through reverent preparation of the outer environment.

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

In Saguna worship of Shiva as the Linga, the mandapa (worship pavilion) and its adornments—toranas, canopies, and clean water sources—support ritual purity and devotion, expressing bhakti through disciplined, auspicious preparation before abhisheka and archana.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests preparing a clean, auspicious worship setting and ensuring pure water for Shiva-abhiṣeka; inwardly, it points to cultivating steadiness and purity while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during worship.