Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

बहवस्तस्य वीरस्य बाहवः परिघोपमाः । शस्त्रैश्चकाशिरे दीप्तैः साग्निज्वाला इवोरगाः

Transliteration

bahavastasya vīrasya bāhavaḥ parighopamāḥ | śastraiścakāśire dīptaiḥ sāgnijvālā ivoragāḥ

Translation

Jener Held besaß viele Arme, stark wie eiserne Keulen; und mit lodernden Waffen leuchteten sie—wie Schlangen, umwunden von Feuerzungen.

Word by Word

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; adjective of ‘बाहवः’

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• वीरस्य: of the hero
• वीरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; apposition to तस्य

• बाहवः: arms
• बाहवः: Karta (कर्ता) (subject of चकाशिरे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• परिघ-उपमाः: like iron bars
• परिघ-उपमाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ‘बाहवः’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parigha (प्रातिपदिक) + upamā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; ‘परिघस्य उपमा’ (like iron bars/clubs)

• शस्त्रैः: with weapons
• शस्त्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• चकाशिरे: shone
• चकाशिरे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cakāś (धातु √kāś/काश् ‘to shine’)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• दीप्तैः: blazing
• दीप्तैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīpta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √dīp/दीप्, PPP)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; adjective of ‘शस्त्रैः’

• स-अग्नि-ज्वालाः: having flames of fire
• स-अग्नि-ज्वालाः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + jvālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; ‘अग्निज्वालाः सह’/‘अग्निज्वालाभिः सहिताः’ (having flames of fire)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (उपमा-अव्यय)

• उरगाः: serpents
• उरगाः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uraga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

FAQs

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

The verse uses vivid martial imagery to portray concentrated śakti (power) in a heroic form; in Shaiva understanding, such power ultimately points to Pati (the Lord) as the source of all capacities, before whom pasha (bondage) and hostile forces are subdued.

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

Although the Linga is the supreme, formless sign of Shiva, the Purana also affirms Saguna manifestations for devotees—forms radiant with weapons and many arms symbolize Shiva’s protecting grace and the Lord’s governance of the cosmos through manifest power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Shiva as the inner protector while repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” visualizing blazing purity that burns impurities (mala) and strengthens steadfastness in dharma.