Shloka 29

Mahiṣāsura’s Conquest of Svarga and the Devas’ Appeal to Śiva and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

शेषश्च भोगिनां नेता विचित्रर चनाञ्चितम् । ददौ तस्यै नागहारं नानास्त्रमणिगुंफितम्

Transliteration

śeṣaśca bhogināṃ netā vicitrara canāñcitam | dadau tasyai nāgahāraṃ nānāstramaṇiguṃphitam

Translation

Śeṣa, supremo caudillo de la estirpe de las serpientes, le ofreció a la Diosa un collar de nāgas, ornado con artesanía maravillosa y engarzado con gemas cual diversas armas, como ofrenda de reverencia a la Madre Divina, siempre honrada en el ámbito sagrado de Śiva.

Word by Word

• śeṣaḥ: Śeṣa (the serpent)
• śeṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• bhoginām: of the serpents
• bhoginām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• netā: leader
• netā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: netṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• vicitra-racanā-añcitam: adorned with varied craftsmanship
• vicitra-racanā-añcitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicitra (प्रातिपदिक) + racanā (प्रातिपदिक) + añcita (कृदन्त; √añc/अञ्च्)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); past participle used adjectivally (भूतकृदन्त/कर्मणि) qualifying nāgahāram

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धाातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tasyai: to her
• tasyai: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन)

• nāga-hāram: a serpent-necklace
• nāga-hāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक) + hāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• nānā-astra-maṇi-guṃphitam: interwoven with various weapon-gems
• nānā-astra-maṇi-guṃphitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + astra (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + guṃphita (कृदन्त; √guṃph/गुम्फ्)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); past participle (भूतकृदन्त) qualifying nāgahāram

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shesha
• Parvati
• Nagas

FAQs

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

The verse depicts consecrated offering (upacāra) to the Divine Mother, showing that even exalted beings like Śeṣa approach Śiva’s Shakti with humility; such reverence purifies the pashu (bound soul) and turns attention toward Pati (the Lord) through devotion.

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

In Shaiva tradition, honoring Parvati as Śiva’s inseparable Shakti supports Saguna worship: devotion to the Divine Couple steadies the mind, making external offerings a gateway to inner surrender—ultimately leading the devotee toward the Linga’s transcendent (nirguṇa) truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests offering sacred ornaments or flowers with mantra and bhakti during Devi–Shiva worship; as a practical takeaway, perform pūjā with focused japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while cultivating humility and gratitude.