Shloka 42

मङ्गलपत्रिकाग्रहणम् — Reception of the Auspicious Marriage Invitation

Devanagari script

ईदृशं सुन्दरं रूपं जातं वर्णातिदुष्करम् । ईश्वरोऽपि स्वयं साक्षादैश्वर्यं लब्धवान्स्वतः

Transliteration

īdṛśaṃ sundaraṃ rūpaṃ jātaṃ varṇātiduṣkaram | īśvaro'pi svayaṃ sākṣādaiśvaryaṃ labdhavānsvataḥ

Translation

అటువంటి అపూర్వ సుందర రూపం అవతరించింది; దానిని మాటలతో వర్ణించడం అత్యంత కష్టం. స్వయంగా సాక్షాత్ ఈశ్వరుడే తన అంతర్నిహిత శక్తితో దివ్య ఐశ్వర్యాన్ని పొందెను.

Word by Word

• ईदृशम्: such
• ईदृशम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (of रूपम्)

• सुन्दरम्: beautiful
• सुन्दरम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of रूपम्)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जातम्: has arisen/was produced
• जातम्: कर्म-सम्बन्ध (Predicate of object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate: “has become/was born”)

• वर्ण-अति-दुष्करम्: very hard to describe
• वर्ण-अति-दुष्करम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अति (अव्यय) + दुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (“extremely difficult to describe/with words”); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of रूपम्/जातम्)

• ईश्वरः: the Lord
• ईश्वरः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also/even)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Emphatic to subject)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb: oneself)

• साक्षात्: directly, in person
• साक्षात्: क्रिया-विशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: directly/manifestly)

• ऐश्वर्यम्: sovereignty, divine power
• ऐश्वर्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• लब्धवान्: obtained
• लब्धवान्: कर्ता-सम्बन्ध (Predicate of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु) + क्तवतु (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त (perfect participle/agentive past), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग (active sense)

• स्वतः: by himself; of his own accord
• स्वतः: हेतु/करण (Cause/means nuance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (ablatival adverb: “from oneself/of itself”, by itself)

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 highlights that Shiva’s manifested beauty (saguṇa revelation) is beyond ordinary speech, and that His supreme lordship (aiśvarya) is self-existent—arising from His own intrinsic Śakti, not from any external cause.

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

The verse supports saguṇa-upāsanā: devotees approach the Lord through a perceivable form that is still ultimately indescribable. In Linga worship, the same truth is honored—Shiva is accessible for devotion while remaining transcendent beyond full description.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on Shiva’s aiśvarya—mentally contemplating His radiant form while repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” acknowledging that words fall short and devotion completes what speech cannot.