Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

निमन्त्रण-पत्रिका-प्रेषणम् (Dispatch of the Invitation Letter) / Himālaya Sends the Wedding Invitation to Śiva

Devanagari script

ता मंगलं मुदा चक्रुर्भूषिता भूषणैः स्वयम् । पुरद्विजस्त्रियो दृष्ट्वा लोकाचारं प्रचक्रिरे

Transliteration

tā maṃgalaṃ mudā cakrurbhūṣitā bhūṣaṇaiḥ svayam | puradvijastriyo dṛṣṭvā lokācāraṃ pracakrire

Translation

她们亲手佩戴种种饰物，欢喜地行诸吉祥仪轨。见到城中婆罗门之妻，她们便随顺世间礼俗而行。

Word by Word

• ताः: they (those women)
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• मङ्गलम्: auspicious rite/auspicious act
• मङ्गलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्/मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भाववाचक (abstract)

• चक्रुः: they did/performed
• चक्रुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• भूषिताः: adorned
• भूषिताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ताः)

• भूषणैः: with ornaments
• भूषणैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• स्वयम्: themselves
• स्वयम्: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात-बल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मवाचक (reflexive/emphatic particle)

• पुर: of the city
• पुर: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (in compound)

• द्विज: of the Brahmins
• द्विज: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (in compound)

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• लोकाचारम्: social custom/accepted practice
• लोकाचारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकाचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (लोकस्य आचारः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रचक्रिरे: they carried out/observed
• प्रचक्रिरे: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; उपसर्ग: प्र-

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It highlights that outer auspicious actions (maṅgala) and orderly conduct (lokācāra) can support inner devotion by stabilizing the mind and aligning one’s life with dharma—preparing the devotee for grace (anugraha) from Śiva.

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

Though the verse describes auspicious observances and social custom, such maṅgala-kriyā commonly frames Saguna Śiva worship—cleanliness, adornment, and proper decorum—so that devotional acts like pūjā to the Liṅga are performed in a sanctified, disciplined manner.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to begin worship with maṅgala—purity, respectful attire/adornment, and dharmic conduct—then proceed to Śiva-upāsanā (e.g., Panchākṣarī japa “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a calm, joyful mind).