Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 28

मन्वन्तर-कल्प-प्रश्नोत्तरम् / Discourse on Manvantaras, Kalpas, and Re-creation

Devanagari script

मणिभिर्भूषणैश्चित्रैर्महारत्नैःपरिष्कृतम् । विराजमानं विद्युद्भिर्मेघसंघमिवोन्नतम्

Transliteration

maṇibhirbhūṣaṇaiścitrairmahāratnaiḥpariṣkṛtam | virājamānaṃ vidyudbhirmeghasaṃghamivonnatam

Translation

Geschmückt mit vielen Edelsteinen und wunderbaren Zieraten, kunstvoll veredelt mit großen Juwelen, ragte es hoch empor—leuchtend mit Blitzen wie in einer Wolkenmasse.

Word by Word

• maṇibhiḥ: with gems
• maṇibhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhūṣaṇaiḥ: with ornaments
• bhūṣaṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• citraiḥ: variegated, splendid
• citraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); विशेषणम् (qualifying bhūṣaṇaiḥ/ratnaiḥ)

• mahā-ratnaiḥ: with great jewels
• mahā-ratnaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (उपसर्गवत्/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः—कर्मधारयः (महानि रत्नानि)

• pariṣkṛtam: adorned, well-decorated
• pariṣkṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pariṣkṛta (कृदन्त, √kṛ with pari- + niṣ-/ṣkṛ)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); भूतकृदन्तः (past passive participle)

• virājamānam: shining
• virājamānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: virājamāna (कृदन्त, √rāj with vi-)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); वर्तमानकृदन्तः (present participle)

• vidyudbhiḥ: with lightning flashes
• vidyudbhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyut (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• megha-saṃgham: a mass of clouds
• megha-saṃgham: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: megha (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषः (मेघानां संघः)

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha/Upamā (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (उपमाव्यय)

• unnatam: lofty, elevated
• unnatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: unnata (कृदन्त/विशेषण, √nam with ud-)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse uses majestic imagery to steady the mind in śraddhā and bhakti—contemplating Shiva’s auspicious, resplendent manifestation (saguṇa) so the devotee’s awareness becomes fit for higher insight into the Supreme Lord (Pati).

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

Such descriptions support saguṇa-upāsanā: the devotee visualizes divine splendor to kindle devotion. In Shaiva Siddhanta, this devotion matures into inner purity, enabling deeper worship of Shiva—whether through the Liṅga (symbol of the transcendent) or through revered divine forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna (visual contemplation) during japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” imagining Shiva’s abode or presence as radiant and elevated, helping the mind become one-pointed and devotional.