Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 11

भद्रस्य दिव्यरथारोहणं शङ्खनादश्च — Bhadra’s Divine Chariot-Ascent and the Conch-Blast

Devanagari script

यक्षविद्याधराहीन्द्रैः सिद्धैर्युद्धदिदृक्षुभिः । क्षणेन निबडीभूताः साकाशविवरा दिशाः

Transliteration

yakṣavidyādharāhīndraiḥ siddhairyuddhadidṛkṣubhiḥ | kṣaṇena nibaḍībhūtāḥ sākāśavivarā diśāḥ

Translation

Im Nu wurden die Himmelsrichtungen dicht gedrängt—kaum blieb ein Spalt im Himmel—denn Yakṣas, Vidyādharas, Schlangenkönige und Siddhas, begierig die Schlacht zu schauen, strömten herbei.

Word by Word

• यक्ष-विद्याधर-अहीन्द्रैः: by Yakṣas, Vidyādharas, and serpent-kings
• यक्ष-विद्याधर-अहीन्द्रैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्याधर (प्रातिपदिक) + अहीन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• सिद्धैः: by Siddhas
• सिद्धैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• युद्ध-दिदृक्षुभिः: by those wishing to see the battle
• युद्ध-दिदृक्षुभिः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + दिदृक्षु (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √दृश् desiderative)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the groups)

• क्षणेन: in a moment
• क्षणेन: अधिकरण (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; कालवाचक-करण (time as instrument)

• निबडीभूताः: became densely packed/filled
• निबडीभूताः: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निबड (प्रातिपदिक) + भू (धातु, कृदन्त)
• Form: भूत (क्त/PPP) from √भू with उपसर्ग-भाव (become); पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; predicate adjective with diśāḥ

• स-आकाश-विवराः: having gaps in the sky (i.e., with the sky full of openings/space)
• स-आकाश-विवराः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (सह/स- उपसर्गवत्) + आकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि—‘यासां आकाशे विवराणि (छिद्राणि) सन्ति’

• दिशाः: the directions/quarters
• दिशाः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Yakshas
• Vidyadharas
• Ahindras (Naga-kings)
• Siddhas

FAQs

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

It shows how even higher beings—Yakṣas, Vidyādharas, Nāga-kings, and Siddhas—are drawn to sacred, dharma-aligned events; the cosmos itself “leans in” to witness the unfolding of divine order under Śiva’s sovereignty as Pati (the Lord).

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

The verse depicts a theophanic atmosphere around a divine event: just as the heavens crowd to witness the battle, devotees gather for darśana of Saguna Śiva—especially in the Liṅga—where the Lord becomes approachable and the community participates through reverent witnessing.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is darśana with focused attention: approach Shiva-kathā or temple worship as “witnessing” the Lord’s līlā—supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to steady the mind while hearing or contemplating the narrative.