Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42

दुर्गोपवीत-रचना तथा शिवामलङ्कारोत्सवः | The Making of the Durgopavīta and Pārvatī’s Auspicious Adornment Festival

Devanagari script

सखीभिर्मेनया प्रीत्या ब्राह्मणस्त्रीभिरेव च । अन्याभिश्च पुरन्धीभिश्चक्रे नीराजनम्मुदा

Transliteration

sakhībhirmenayā prītyā brāhmaṇastrībhireva ca | anyābhiśca purandhībhiścakre nīrājanammudā

Translation

她怀着深情，在闺友与梅那相伴下，又有婆罗门之妻及诸位贵妇同在，欢喜行作吉祥的尼罗阇那——即阿尔提灯礼。

Word by Word

• sakhībhiḥ: by (female) friends
• sakhībhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• menayā: by Menā
• menayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: menā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• prītyā: with affection
• prītyā: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• brāhmaṇa-strībhiḥ: by Brahmin women
• brāhmaṇa-strībhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa+strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); समास: brāhmaṇa+strī (तत्पुरुष)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), emphatic particle (निपात)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• anyābhiḥ: by other (women)
• anyābhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); used substantively

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• purandhībhiḥ: by women/ladies
• purandhībhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purandhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• cakre: (she) performed
• cakre: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातu)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• nīrājanam: ārati/ceremonial waving of lights
• nīrājanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīrājana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• mudā: with joy
• mudā: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Mena

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti expressed through communal, loving worship—auspicious nīrājana offered with pure intent, which in Shaiva Siddhanta purifies the heart (antaḥkaraṇa) and nurtures devotion toward Pati (Shiva) and His divine śakti.

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

Nīrājana is a classic upacāra of saguna-upāsanā—serving the Lord through visible, reverent offerings (light, honor, auspiciousness). Such ritual devotion supports steady contemplation, eventually maturing toward deeper realization of Shiva as the supreme Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform ārati (nīrājana) with devotion, ideally alongside mantra-japa such as the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” keeping the mind joyful, reverent, and focused on Shiva’s grace.