Shloka 40

महाकालज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्ये चन्द्रसेन-चिन्तामणि-प्रसङ्गः

Mahākāla Jyotirliṅga Māhātmya: The Episode of King Candrasena and the Cintāmaṇi

Devanagari script

तत्रापश्यत्स्वजननीं स्वपंतीं दिव्यलक्षणाम् । रत्नालंकारदीप्तांगीं साक्षात्सुरवधूमिव

Transliteration

tatrāpaśyatsvajananīṃ svapaṃtīṃ divyalakṣaṇām | ratnālaṃkāradīptāṃgīṃ sākṣātsuravadhūmiva

Translation

അവിടെ അവൻ തന്റെ ജനനിയെ നിദ്രയിൽ കണ്ടു; ദിവ്യ മംഗളലക്ഷണങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കൃതയായവൾ. രത്നാഭരണങ്ങളുടെ ദീപ്തിയാൽ അവളുടെ അവയവങ്ങൾ പ്രകാശിച്ചു, സാക്ഷാൽ ദേവലോകവധുവിനെപ്പോലെ തോന്നി.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• अपश्यत्: saw
• अपश्यत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• स्व: own
• स्व: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्राय विशेषण (indeclinable-like adjective), स्वार्थक (reflexive: 'own'), समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण प्रयुक्त

• जननीम्: mother
• जननीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• स्वपन्तीम्: sleeping
• स्वपन्तीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वप् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण

• दिव्य: divine
• दिव्य: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (जननीम् इत्यस्य विशेषण)

• लक्षणाम्: having marks/characteristics
• लक्षणाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्षणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'दिव्यलक्षणाम्' इत्यत्र विशेषण

• रत्न: jewel
• रत्न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• अलंकार: ornament
• अलंकार: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलंकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• दीप्त: shining
• दीप्त: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/Past passive participle), प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• अङ्गीम्: whose limbs were shining with jeweled ornaments
• अङ्गीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास: रत्न-अलंकार-दीप्त-अङ्गी (रत्नालंकारैः दीप्तानि अङ्गानि यस्याः सा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• साक्षात्: directly, as if in person
• साक्षात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: directly/manifestly)

• सुर: god, deva
• सुर: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• वधूम्: a deva-bride
• वधूम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वधू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: सुरवधू (सुराणां वधूः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इव: like, as if
• इव: Upamādyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमावाचक निपात (particle of comparison)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Shows grace extending to family/household: the mother appears ‘divya-lakṣaṇā’ like a devī/apsaras—Śiva’s anugraha sanctifies relational life, not only ascetic life.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Night setting heightens the contrast of ornament-radiance; auspiciousness (śrī) shines in darkness as a sign of divine favor.

FAQs

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

The verse highlights “divya-lakṣaṇa” (divine auspicious marks) and radiant purity, suggesting that dharmic virtue and Shiva’s grace manifest outwardly as serenity, beauty, and sattvic splendor even in ordinary scenes like sleep.

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

Though the verse is descriptive, it supports Saguna devotion by training the mind to recognize sacredness in form—an attitude central to Linga worship, where the devotee learns to perceive Shiva’s presence through auspicious signs and sanctified appearances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is “darśana-bhāvanā”: contemplative seeing—mentally offering reverence to auspicious forms while repeating the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating inner purity and devotional attention.