jaladhimathanadakṣo naiva pātālabhedīna ca vanamṛgayāyāṃ naiva lubdhaḥ pravīṇaḥ ;aśanakusumabhūṣāvastramukhyāṃ saparyāṃkathaya kathamahaṃ te kalpayānīndumaule . 85 .
ŚLOKA 85 / 100
An ordinary worshipper’s question
About these study notes: English meanings and explanations were generated with AI assistance and have not been independently reviewed by a Sanskrit scholar. Sanskrit text follows the cited source editions.
02 / PHRASE STUDY · PADĀRTHA
A phrase at a time.
Follow the words into meaning. Select a phrase to locate it in the verse above. Read the quarters together for the full sentence.
Sringeri IAST text · source wording and line-break hyphens retained. English glosses follow the connected Sanskrit sense.
Vignanam text · spellings and hyphens retained. English glosses follow the base Sanskrit; variant readings are not separately translated.
| Selected phrase | Meaning in context |
|---|---|
I am not skilled at churning the ocean or piercing the underworld. | |
Nor am I an accomplished hunter in the forest. | |
How can I prepare worship with food, flowers, ornaments and clothing | |
For you, O moon-crested Lord? Tell me. |
These four study units follow the printed quarters. Sentences and compounds can continue across a line break; read the whole verse for connected meaning. The source wording stays unchanged.
| Selected phrase | Meaning in context |
|---|---|
I am not skilled at churning the ocean or piercing the underworld. Key expressions in this quarter: jaladhi — ocean; mathana — churning; pātāla — underworld. | |
Nor am I an accomplished hunter in the forest. Key expressions in this quarter: mṛgayā — hunting. | |
How can I prepare worship with food, flowers, ornaments and clothing Key expressions in this quarter: aśana — food; bhūṣā — ornament; saparyā — worship. | |
For you, O moon-crested Lord? Tell me. Key expressions in this quarter: indumauli — moon-crested Lord. |
Selected words and compound parts are shown in IAST. This is a contextual vocabulary study, not an exhaustive grammatical analysis. The source phrase follows your selected script. Locate highlights that unchanged phrase; learning forms are not substituted into the verse.
| Word / source phrase | Meaning in context |
|---|---|
ocean | |
churning | |
underworld | |
hunting | |
food | |
ornament | |
worship | |
moon-crested Lord |
03 / SIMPLE MEANING
An ordinary worshipper’s question
I am not skilled at churning the ocean or piercing the underworld. Nor am I an accomplished hunter in the forest. How can I prepare worship with food, flowers, ornaments and clothing For you, O moon-crested Lord? Tell me.
04 / DETAILED MEANING
How the verse unfolds.
Shiva’s extraordinary food, ornaments and clothing make ordinary preparations seem impossible. The poet turns this mismatch into a humble question about how worship can be offered at all. Behind the playful impossibility lies a request that the Lord accept what an ordinary devotee can give.
EDITORIAL EXPLANATION · NOT A TRADITIONAL COMMENTARY
05 / DEEPER CONTEMPLATION
What can I offer sincerely without pretending to possess extraordinary powers?
Read this verse once more, then sit with the question. Notice the particular image or expression that holds your attention. You do not need to force an answer.
Keep a reflection or question ↓06 / THEMES & TATTVA
Connected themes
Editorial lenses; a verse may invite other readings.
Associated Tattva
Grace and approach
Shiva’s extraordinary food and ornaments exceed the ordinary worshipper’s capacities. The question asks how finite means can become an acceptable offering.
Explore this Tattva →07 / PERSONAL REFLECTION
A phrase, a question, a moment of understanding
What can I offer sincerely without pretending to possess extraordinary powers?
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