Shloka 46

Gṛhapati’s Vow: Turning Grief into Mṛtyuñjaya–Mahākāla Sādhana (गृहपतेः प्रतिज्ञा—मृत्युंजय-महाकालजपः)

Devanagari script

कपर्द्देन विराजन्तं त्रिशूलाजगवायुधम् । स्फुरत्कर्पूरगौरांगं परिणद्ध गजाजिनम्

Transliteration

kaparddena virājantaṃ triśūlājagavāyudham | sphuratkarpūragaurāṃgaṃ pariṇaddha gajājinam

Translation

Il resplendissait, paré de ses cheveux emmêlés et enroulés, portant le trident et le serpent pour armes. Son corps étincelait d’une blancheur pure, semblable au camphre, et il était ceint d’une peau d’éléphant ; ainsi fut contemplée la forme saguṇa de Śiva, le Seigneur compatissant qui accorde la mokṣa aux âmes liées.

Word by Word

• कपर्देन: with matted hair (kaparda)
• कपर्देन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपर्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• विराजन्तम्: shining, resplendent
• विराजन्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + राज् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (Present Active Participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of the deity)

• त्रिशूलाजगवायुधम्: having trident and ajagava (bow) as weapons
• त्रिशूलाजगवायुधम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिशूल + अजगव + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (त्रिशूलं च अजगवं च—आयुधे यस्य) बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषणवत्

• स्फुरत्: gleaming
• स्फुरत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्फुर् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (Present Active Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपदत्वेन (in compound)

• कर्पूरगौराङ्गम्: whose body is camphor-white
• कर्पूरगौराङ्गम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्पूर + गौर + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘कर्पूरवत् गौरम् अङ्गम् यस्य’)

• परिणद्ध: clad, bound around
• परिणद्ध: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + नह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक-सम्भव; अत्र विशेषणरूपेण (bound, clad)

• गजाजिनम्: elephant-skin
• गजाजिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज + अजिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘गजस्य अजिनम्’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents Śiva’s Saguna dhyāna—His visible, attribute-bearing form—so the devotee’s mind can rest on the Lord (Pati) who alone cuts the bonds (pāśa) and leads the soul (paśu) to liberation.

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

While the Liṅga is the aniconic sign of Śiva’s limitless reality, this verse supports Saguna upāsanā by describing His iconographic marks (jaṭā, triśūla, serpent, radiant body), enabling focused meditation that culminates in Liṅga-centered realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Śiva-dhyāna by visualizing Him with jaṭā, triśūla, and serpent while softly repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”; this is especially suitable for Mahāśivarātri vrata and daily japa.