Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 11

परस्य दुर्‍निर्णयः—षट्कुलीयमुनिविवादः तथा ब्रह्मदर्शनार्थं मेरुप्रयाणम् | The Dispute of the Six-Lineage Sages on the Supreme and Their Journey to Brahmā at Meru

Devanagari script

महार्हमणिचित्राभिर्लेलिहानमिवांबरम् । महाभवनकोटीभिरनेकाभिरलंकृतम्

Transliteration

mahārhamaṇicitrābhirlelihānamivāṃbaram | mahābhavanakoṭībhiranekābhiralaṃkṛtam

Translation

Der Himmel schien zu flimmern und zu tanzen, als wäre er mit kostbaren, unschätzbaren Edelsteinen bemalt; und die Stadt war mit zahllosen großen Palästen in vielfältiger Fülle geschmückt.

Word by Word

• महार्ह: highly precious
• महार्ह: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महार्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; ‘very precious’

• मणि: gem
• मणि: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग

• चित्राभिः: with variegated (decorations)
• चित्राभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental/करण); qualifies implied ‘कान्ति/प्रभा/रेखा’ or ‘विभूषा’

• लेलिहानम्: flickering, flashing
• लेलिहानम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लेलिहान (कृदन्त; √लिह् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्राय), नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘licking/flashing’ (metaphoric)

• इव: as if, like
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Comparative marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• अम्बरम्: sky, firmament
• अम्बरम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• महा: great
• महा: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; ‘great’

• भवन: mansion, building
• भवन: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग

• कोटीभिः: with multitudes (crores)
• कोटीभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental/करण); ‘by crores/multitudes’

• अनेकाभिः: many
• अनेकाभिः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; qualifies ‘कोटीभिः’

• अलंकृतम्: adorned
• अलंकृतम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलंकृत (कृदन्त; √कृ धातु with अलं-)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘adorned’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It depicts the luminous, ordered beauty of Shiva’s divine sphere, suggesting that proximity to Pati (Shiva) transforms perception: the realm of bondage (pāśa) is replaced by a vision of radiance, harmony, and auspiciousness aligned with liberation.

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

The verse uses concrete splendor—jewels, palaces, and a vibrant sky—to communicate Saguna Shiva’s accessible glory. Such imagery supports devotional contemplation (bhakti) where the devotee approaches the transcendent (Nirguna) through auspicious forms and attributes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna: visualize Shiva’s auspicious realm while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” steadying the mind in purity; this supports inner detachment from pāśa and orientation toward moksha.