Shloka 18

Devīkṛta-praśna-varṇana (Description of the Goddess’s Questions) / देवीकृतप्रश्नवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

अलंकृत्य महादेवीं स्वांकमारोप्य शंकरः । प्रहृष्टवदनस्तस्थौ विलोक्य च तदाननम्

Transliteration

alaṃkṛtya mahādevīṃ svāṃkamāropya śaṃkaraḥ | prahṛṣṭavadanastasthau vilokya ca tadānanam

Translation

Sau khi trang sức cho Mahādevī, Śaṅkara đặt nàng ngồi trên chính đùi mình. Với gương mặt rạng ngời hoan hỷ, Ngài an trụ nơi ấy, chăm chú ngắm dung nhan nàng—bày tỏ sự dịu hiền cát tường của Đấng Hữu tướng (saguṇa), vị Pati hằng giải thoát mọi linh hồn.

Word by Word

• alaṃkṛtya: having adorned
• alaṃkṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: alaṃkṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: अलंकृ (to adorn)

• mahādevīm: Mahādevī (Pārvatī)
• mahādevīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahādevī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; समास: महा+देवी (कर्मधारय)

• svāṅkam: his own lap
• svāṅkam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + aṅka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; समास: स्व+अङ्क (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘one’s own lap’)

• āropya: having placed (her)
• āropya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-ruh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), उपसर्ग: आ-, धातु: रुह् (to mount/place)

• śaṅkaraḥ: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• śaṅkaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• prahṛṣṭa-vadanaḥ: with a delighted face
• prahṛṣṭa-vadanaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prahṛṣṭa (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: प्रहृष्टं वदनं यस्य सः (बहुव्रीहि)

• tasthau: stood/remained
• tasthau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• vilokya: having looked at
• vilokya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-lok (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), उपसर्ग: वि-, धातु: लोक् (to look)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• tad-ānanam: that face (her face)
• tad-ānanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: तद्+आनन (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘her face’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailāsa account to the sages, as typical Purāṇic frame)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It portrays Śiva as the supreme Pati who, though transcendent, lovingly manifests in a saguna way to bless the devotee’s heart—teaching that intimacy with the Divine through bhakti is also a valid doorway to liberation.

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

Liṅga worship points to the formless, nirguṇa depth of Śiva, while this scene highlights His gracious saguna accessibility. Together they show the Shiva Purana’s harmony: the same Lord is worshipped as Liṅga (tattva) and adored as Śaṅkara with Umā (līlā).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple dhyāna: visualize Śiva and Pārvatī in Kailāsa with a calm, joyful mind while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating tenderness, purity, and surrender.