Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25

वीरभद्रक्रोधशमनं देवस्तुतिश्च

Pacification of Vīrabhadra and the Gods’ Hymn

Devanagari script

मेदुरं तारयामास सदारं च घृणानिधिः । शारदां विधवां चक्रे सधवां क्रियया भवान्

Transliteration

meduraṃ tārayāmāsa sadāraṃ ca ghṛṇānidhiḥ | śāradāṃ vidhavāṃ cakre sadhavāṃ kriyayā bhavān

Translation

إنّ بحر الرحمة خلّص مِدُورا مع زوجته؛ وبقوّة شعيرتك المقدّسة، يا بهافا (شيفا)، جعلتَ شَارَدَا التي ترمّلتُ تعودُ ذاتَ زوجٍ من جديد.

Word by Word

• मेदुरम्: Medura (person)
• मेदुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेदुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Proper name used as object

• तारयामास: saved / delivered
• तारयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense ‘caused to cross/save’

• स-दारम्: together with (his) wife
• स-दारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास: ‘with (his) wife’ qualifying the object

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• घृणा-निधिः: the treasure of compassion (compassionate one)
• घृणा-निधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृणा (प्रातिपदिक) + निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘treasure of compassion’ (epithet)

• शारदाम्: Śāradā (woman)
• शारदाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शारदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Proper name

• विधवाम्: widowed
• विधवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of शारदाम्

• चक्रे: made
• चक्रे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• स-धवाम्: having (her) husband / not widowed
• स-धवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + धवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास: ‘with husband’ (i.e., having a husband) as result-state

• क्रियया: by (a) rite / by ritual action
• क्रियया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• भवान्: you (honored sir)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; आदरार्थ-प्रयोग (honorific ‘you’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya discourse to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Exempla of Śiva’s compassion (ghṛṇānidhi): deliverance of Medura (with spouse) and restoration of Śāradā’s married state through ‘kriyā’—ritual efficacy grounded in Śiva’s grace.

Significance: Affirms that Śiva’s anugraha can ‘carry across’ (tārayāmāsa) devotees from sin/suffering and restore social-auspicious order; encourages kriyā (ritual observance) as a means of approaching grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Bhava)
• Medura
• Śāradā

FAQs

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

It praises Śiva as the “ocean of compassion” who liberates devotees from suffering and bondage, showing that divine grace (anugraha) can restore dharma and well-being even in seemingly irreversible loss.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva—Bhava—responding to devotion through “kriyā” (ritual action), which in Purāṇic Shaiva practice commonly centers on Liṅga-pūjā, vrata, and prescribed observances that invite Śiva’s saving grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to the efficacy of Shaiva kriyā—regular worship and vow-based observance—supported by mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a practical means to seek Śiva’s protection and restoration of auspiciousness.