Shloka 53

मङ्गलपत्रिकाग्रहणम् — Reception of the Auspicious Marriage Invitation

Devanagari script

मार्कण्डेयश्शिलापाकोऽरुणपालोऽकृतश्रमः । अगस्त्यश्च्यवनो गर्गश्शिलादोऽथ महामुने

Transliteration

mārkaṇḍeyaśśilāpāko'ruṇapālo'kṛtaśramaḥ | agastyaścyavano gargaśśilādo'tha mahāmune

Translation

Ó grande sábio, (estavam também) Mārkaṇḍeya, Śilāpāka, Aruṇapāla, Akṛtaśrama; e ainda Agastya, Cyavana, Garga e Śilāda—ṛṣis de grande renome.

Word by Word

• mārkaṇḍeyaḥ: Mārkaṇḍeya
• mārkaṇḍeyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārkaṇḍeya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• śilāpākaḥ: Śilāpāka
• śilāpākaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilāpāka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (ऋषिनाम)

• aruṇapālaḥ: Aruṇapāla
• aruṇapālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aruṇapāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (ऋषिनाम)

• akṛtaśramaḥ: untiring, unwearied
• akṛtaśramaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; list epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-kṛta-śrama (प्रातिपदिक: a + kṛta + śrama)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष: अकृतः श्रमः यस्य/अकृतश्रमः (अर्थतः ‘अश्रमः/अक्लान्तः’)

• agastyaḥ: Agastya
• agastyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agastya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• cyavanaḥ: Cyavana
• cyavanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cyavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• gargaḥ: Garga
• gargaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• śilādaḥ: Śilāda
• śilādaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• mahāmune: O great sage
• mahāmune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-muni (प्रातिपदिक: mahā + muni)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महांश्चासौ मुनिः

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; continues the pariṣad enumeration. The mention of Mārkaṇḍeya (iconic Śiva-bhakta) implicitly signals Śiva’s anugraha protecting the devotee from death, a thematic undercurrent even in a list-verse.

Significance: Hearing the names of great Śiva-devotees (e.g., Mārkaṇḍeya) is treated as smaraṇa-sādhana, strengthening bhakti and eligibility for Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Agastya
• Cyavana
• Garga
• Śilāda

FAQs

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

It establishes the authority of the narration by invoking a lineage of revered ṛṣis, implying that Śiva’s glory is affirmed by realized seers and is therefore spiritually trustworthy for seekers of liberation.

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

By naming eminent sages known in Śaiva memory, the text frames the coming account as part of the living tradition of Saguna Śiva worship—where Śiva is approached through sacred forms, stories, and disciplined devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to follow the ṛṣi-path: regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), Śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance), and disciplined observances (vrata) as taught in Purāṇic Śaiva tradition.