Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 20

दक्षस्य रुद्रनिन्दा-निमित्तकथनम् / The Cause of Dakṣa’s Censure of Rudra

Devanagari script

आरुरोह महादेवी सह प्रियसखीजनैः । चामारव्यञ्जनं तस्या वज्रदंडमनोहरे

Transliteration

āruroha mahādevī saha priyasakhījanaiḥ | cāmāravyañjanaṃ tasyā vajradaṃḍamanohare

Translation

ركبت الإلهة العظمى مع زمرة صديقاتها الحبيبات على المحفّة/المركبة. وكان يُلوَّح لها بمراوح التشامارا من ذَنَب الياك، جميلةً آسرةً، ومقابضها فاتنة كأنها صولجان الفَجْرَة (ڤَجْرَة).

Word by Word

• आरुरोह: mounted, ascended
• आरुरोह: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रुह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महादेवी: the Great Goddess
• महादेवी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘महती देवी’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सह: with
• सह: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Accompaniment marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक-उपपद (preposition-like indeclinable) ‘with’

• प्रिय-सखी-जनैः: with the group of dear female friends
• प्रिय-सखी-जनैः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + सखी (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: ‘प्रियाः सख्यः’ तासां जनाः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘सह’ इत्यस्य योगे

• चामार-व्यञ्जनम्: the fanning with a cāmara (yak-tail fan)
• चामार-व्यञ्जनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object) (contextual: object/implement described)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चामर (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘चामरेण व्यञ्जनम्’ = fanning with a yak-tail fan), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• वज्र-दण्ड-मनोहरे: charming like a thunderbolt-staff
• वज्र-दण्ड-मनोहरे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वज्रस्य दण्डः इव; तेन मनोहरः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘चामारव्यञ्जनम्’ इति विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It portrays Mahādevī as the manifest, auspicious power (Śakti) honored with reverence; such honoring of the Divine Mother supports bhakti and purity of mind, preparing the devotee for Shaiva realization of Pati (Śiva) through grace.

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

The verse emphasizes saguna devotion—serving and venerating the Divine in form. In Shaiva practice, honoring Mahādevī naturally complements Linga worship, since Śiva is worshiped along with His Śakti, inseparable in tattva and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is upacāra-sevā (devotional offerings and respectful service). Practically, one may perform simple pūjā with fanning (symbolic), along with japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as an inner offering of reverence.