Shloka 46

Śumbha–Niśumbha’s Mobilization After Devī’s Victories

Battle Muster and Omens

Devanagari script

बभूवुर्मार्गवाहिन्यस्सरितः स्वच्छपाथसः । ववुर्वाताः सुखस्पर्शा निर्मलत्वं ययौ नभः

Transliteration

babhūvurmārgavāhinyassaritaḥ svacchapāthasaḥ | vavurvātāḥ sukhasparśā nirmalatvaṃ yayau nabhaḥ

Translation

Los ríos volvieron a correr por sus cauces debidos, con aguas transparentes; soplaron vientos suaves de grato contacto, y el cielo alcanzó una pureza completa.

Word by Word

• babhūvuḥ: became/were
• babhūvuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Verb: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural, Parasmaipada; √bhū ‘to become’

• mārga-vāhinyaḥ: flowing in channels
• mārga-vāhinyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mārga (प्रातिपदिक) + vāhinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Plural; tatpuruṣa: mārgaṃ vahanti iti = ‘flowing along a path/channel’

• saritaḥ: rivers
• saritaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• svaccha-pāthasaḥ: with clear waters
• svaccha-pāthasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svaccha (प्रातिपदिक) + pāthas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; karmadhāraya: ‘clear water’ → ‘of clear water’ (qualifying saritaḥ)

• vavuḥ: blew
• vavuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vā (धातु)
• Form: Verb: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural, Parasmaipada; √vā ‘to blow’

• vātāḥ: winds
• vātāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• sukha-sparśāḥ: pleasant-touching
• sukha-sparśāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + sparśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; karmadhāraya: ‘pleasant to the touch’

• nirmalatvam: clarity/purity
• nirmalatvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirmalatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• yayau: attained/went to
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: Verb: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada; √yā ‘to go/attain’

• nabhaḥ: the sky
• nabhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It describes auspicious signs of purification and restored order—nature becomes clear and harmonious, reflecting the Shaiva Siddhanta theme that when Pati (Shiva) is pleased, impurities and bondage (pāśa) subside and clarity (śuddhi) arises in the world and the mind.

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

Such cosmic calm and clarity are presented as fruits of devotion to Saguna Shiva—worship of the Linga aligns the devotee with Shiva’s grace, which manifests as purification, right order (mārga), and inner peace mirrored outwardly in the elements.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śauca (purity) with steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” ideally with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa—cultivating inner clarity like the ‘clear rivers and pure sky’ described.