Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

मङ्गलाचरणम्, तीर्थ-परिसरः, सूतागमनम् — Invocation, Sacred Setting, and the Arrival of Sūta

Devanagari script

श्वेतकल्पप्रसंगेन वायुना कथितं पुरा । विद्यास्थानानि सर्वाणि पुराणानुक्रमं तथा

Transliteration

śvetakalpaprasaṃgena vāyunā kathitaṃ purā | vidyāsthānāni sarvāṇi purāṇānukramaṃ tathā

Translation

قديماً، وبمناسبة خبر «شڤيتا-كالبا»، روى ڤايو هذه الأمور: جميع مقامات العلم المقدّس، وكذلك التعداد المرتّب للبورانات.

Word by Word

• श्वेत-कल्प-प्रसङ्गेन: by/through the occasion of the Śveta-kalpa
• श्वेत-कल्प-प्रसङ्गेन: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेत-कल्प-प्रसङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक; श्वेत+कल्प+प्रसङ्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (षष्ठी) ‘श्वेतकल्पस्य प्रसङ्गः’

• वायुना: by Vāyu
• वायुना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• कथितम्: told, narrated
• कथितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; (अध्याहृतं ‘इदम्’)

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• विद्या-स्थानानि: the seats/branches of knowledge
• विद्या-स्थानानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक; विद्या+स्थान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (षष्ठी) ‘विद्यायाः स्थानानि’

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• पुराण-अनुक्रमम्: the sequence/index of the Purāṇas
• पुराण-अनुक्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण-अनुक्रम (प्रातिपदिक; पुराण+अनुक्रम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (षष्ठी) ‘पुराणानाम् अनुक्रमः’

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (adverb: ‘also/likewise’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (summarizing the Vāyu tradition of narration within the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: By situating narration in a specific kalpa (Śveta-kalpa) and in Vāyu’s transmission, the verse sacralizes cosmological time and legitimizes the Purāṇic map of vidyāsthānas—supporting dharmic orientation for seekers.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Śveta-kalpa (a specific aeonic cycle referenced as narrative frame)

Characters & Entities

• Vayu
• Śveta-kalpa
• Purāṇas

FAQs

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

It establishes scriptural grounding: the Shiva Purana’s teaching is presented as an ancient, orderly transmission of sacred knowledge, guiding the soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati) through right understanding.

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

By pointing to “all seats of knowledge,” it signals that devotion and ritual (including Linga worship) are not isolated acts but part of an integrated Shaiva revelation—where practice is supported by authoritative teaching and proper lineage of narration.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse primarily emphasizes study and hearing (śravaṇa) of Shaiva scripture in proper order; as a practical takeaway, one can combine daily recitation/hearing with Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to align knowledge with devotion.