Patneem Manoramam Dehi... - A Prayer for Marriage
Today we will discuss about a prayer seeking a good life partner, or in other words a prayer for marriage. The prayer is address to goddess durga.
पत्नीं मनोरमां देहि मनोवृत्तानुसारिणीम्।
तारिणींदुर्गसं सारसागरस्य कुलोभ्दवाम् ||
patnīṃ manoramāṃ dehi manovṛttānusāriṇīm.
tāriṇīndurgasaṃ sārasāgarasya kulobhdavām ||
This verse is from the argala stotra and it can be chanted as a separate mantra to pray for a good wife / or husband.
When the girls are using this mantra they can either chant the same and ask for a good husband to the goddess
Or if they wish, they can change the gender given in the verse as below
We must note that though the verse prays for a wife, the qualities of the wife listed in the verse is gender neutral, hence the girls who are praying to the goddess for a good husband change change the shloka as shown below.
पतिं मनोरमं देहि मनोवृत्तानुसारिणं
तारिणं दुर्गसंसारसागरस्य कुलोद्भवं
patiṃ manoramaṃ dehi manovṛttānusāriṇaṃ
tāriṇaṃ durgasaṃ sārasāgarasya kulodbhavaṃ
Now let us discuss the meaning of the verse
पत्नीं मनोरमां देहि मनोवृत्तानुसारिणीम्।
तारिणींदुर्गसंसारसागरस्य कुलोभ्दवाम् ||
patnīṃ manoramāṃ dehi manovṛttānusāriṇīm.
tāriṇīṃ durgasaṃsārasāgarasya kulobhdavām ||
manoramāṃ - who is gratifying the mind, attractive, pleasant, charming, beautiful
manoramā means pleasing, delighting, rejoicing, and dear to the mind.
She who makes your mind and heart happy.
यस्याः दर्शनं भावं च शोभनं वर्तते वा
Whose presence and appearance is beautiful, pleasant and auspicious
She who is pleasing to me , so dear to me that she makes my life beautiful by her mere presence, one who is dear to me in all states and situations of life, a person who is always lovable by me. She who is always beautiful for me, and attractive to my mind by her appearance, thoughts, characteristics and qualities.
In other words, someone who I can love equally as I love myself (in all conditions) someone who makes my mind happier naturally by being herself.
manovṛttānusāriṇīm. - Who is in accordance with my mana (mind) and vṛtta (action, mode of life, conduct, behaviour) in other words we can interpret as who is in sync with my thought and action.
This word can be interpreted as one who supports and participates with me in my thoughts and actions, which are good, having similar values and ideals, and core believes. Who respects and rejoices my thoughts and actions being in-line with them, who understands well the reasons of my thoughts and actions and also help and participate in my thoughts and actions through discussions and
tāriṇīn durgasaṃsārasāgarasya - she who rescues, saves, helps to pass over, Helps through the difficulties of the ocean of mundane life cycle and worldliness which is very difficult to pass through and go over.
She who helps us float through the ocean of worldly difficulties like a helmswoman giving her hands in help to us all the time.
Meaning she who always extends her supports to sail together the difficulties of the world as a duo
She who encourages, supports my spiritual endeavours, and practices which can liberate us from the ocean of mundane cycle of birth, life and death.
A true everlasting companion who stands by my side to make life beautiful pass through all difficulties of life.
kulobhdavām – who is born in a good lineage.
न कुलं कुलमित्याहुराचारः कुलमुच्यते
na kulaṃ kulamityāhurācāraḥ kulamucyate
kula doesn’t mean a cast, community or creed but kula represents good conduct which is a result of a good upbringing and good surrounding (association with the righteous people, people of high values, morals and conduct)
