Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

मन्दरगिरिवर्णनम् — Description of Mount Mandara as Śiva’s Residence

Tapas-abode

Devanagari script

तत्रोद्यानमनुप्राप्य देव्या सह महेश्वरः । रराम रमणीयासु देव्यान्तःपुरभूमिषु

Transliteration

tatrodyānamanuprāpya devyā saha maheśvaraḥ | rarāma ramaṇīyāsu devyāntaḥpurabhūmiṣu

Translation

ครั้นเสด็จถึงสวน ณ ที่นั้น มหาอีศวรพร้อมพระเทวีทรงสำราญพระทัย เสด็จวิหารเล่นในเขตอันรื่นรมย์แห่งพระตำหนักชั้นในของพระเทวี

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adverbial locus)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• उद्यानम्: garden
• उद्यानम्: कर्म (Object of अनुप्राप्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अनुप्राप्य: having reached
• अनुप्राप्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Absolutive action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थे ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष (Gerund) ‘having reached/attained’

• देव्या: with the Goddess
• देव्या: सहकारक (Associative; with saha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: सहकारक (Association marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सहार्थक-उपपद (postposition meaning ‘with’)

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara (the Great Lord)
• महेश्वरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘महान् ईश्वरः’

• रराम: sporting/enjoyed
• रराम: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• रमणीयासु: delightful, charming
• रमणीयासु: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रमणीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; भूमिषु इत्यस्य विशेषण

• देवी-अन्तःपुर-भूमिषु: in the grounds of the देवी’s inner palace
• देवी-अन्तःपुर-भूमिषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी + अन्तःपुर + भूमि (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘देव्याः अन्तःपुरस्य भूमिषु’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models the ‘saguṇa’ accessibility of the divine: devotees contemplate Śiva not only as transcendent Pati but as graciously present with Śakti in a sanctified abode (udyāna/antaḥpura).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva’s divine līlā with Devī as a sacred revelation of Pati-Śakti unity—showing that the Supreme is not only transcendent (nirguṇa) but also graciously accessible in auspicious form (saguṇa) for the sake of devotees.

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

Though the verse describes a personal līlā scene, it supports saguṇa upāsanā: devotees contemplate Śiva with Devī as the compassionate Lord who receives worship—whether as the Liṅga (icon of abiding presence) or as the divine couple in narrative remembrance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple takeaway is smaraṇa (devotional recollection): meditate on Śiva-Devī together while chanting the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating purity and intimacy with the Lord’s grace.