Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30

उपमन्युतपः-निवारणप्रसङ्गः / Śiva restrains Upamanyu’s tapas (Śiva disguised as Indra)

Devanagari script

भस्मादाय तदा घोरमघोरास्त्राभिमंत्रितम् । विसृज्य शक्रमुद्दिश्य ननाद स मुनिस्तदा

Transliteration

bhasmādāya tadā ghoramaghorāstrābhimaṃtritam | visṛjya śakramuddiśya nanāda sa munistadā

Translation

حينئذٍ أخذَ المُنيّ الرمادَ المقدّسَ، وقرنه بتعويذة سلاح «أغورا» المهيب. ثم قذفه نحو شَكرا (إندرا)، فزأرَ بصوتٍ مدوٍّ في تلك اللحظة.

Word by Word

• भस्म: ashes
• भस्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having taken’

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); विशेषण

• अघोर-अस्त्र-अभिमन्त्रितम्: consecrated/enchanted with the Aghora-weapon (mantra)
• अघोर-अस्त्र-अभिमन्त्रितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अघोर (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अभि-मन्त्रित (कृदन्त, मन्त्र् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); ‘अघोरास्त्रेण अभिमन्त्रितम्’ (instrumental-tatpuruṣa sense)

• विसृज्य: having released
• विसृज्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-सृज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having discharged/released’

• शक्रम्: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• उद्दिश्य: aiming at
• उद्दिश्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having aimed at/with reference to’

• ननाद: roared
• ननाद: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (3rd person singular)

• स: he
• स: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); सर्वनाम

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya Saṃhitā account to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Aghoramurti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; the verse depicts bhasma as Śiva’s signature sacramental substance, here weaponized through Aghora-astra mantra.

Significance: Affirms bhasma’s protective potency and the reality of mantra-śakti under Śiva’s aegis; devotion is shown as capable of subduing even deva-pride.

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Shakra)
• Aghora (aspect/mantra of Shiva)
• Bhasma (sacred ash)

FAQs

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

It presents bhasma as more than a symbol: when sanctified by Śiva-mantra (Aghora), it becomes a vehicle of divine śakti, showing that spiritual authority grounded in Śiva can subdue even cosmic powers like Indra.

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

Bhasma is a key Shaiva mark (Tripuṇḍra) used in Saguna worship; here it is also a mantra-charged instrument, indicating that external worship (bhasma, mantra) should be united with Śiva-bhakti and disciplined intention.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to reverent use of bhasma with mantra-japa—applying Tripuṇḍra and contemplating Aghora (fearless, purifying Śiva) so the mind is fortified against ego, fear, and hostile impulses.