Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 6

सत्याः पुनस्तपश्चर्या — Satī’s Return to Austerity (Tapas) and Fearless Liṅga-Worship

Devanagari script

तमेव क्षणिके लिंगे ध्यात्वा बाह्यविधानतः । त्रिसन्ध्यमभ्यर्चयन्ती वन्यैः पुष्पैः फलादिभिः

Transliteration

tameva kṣaṇike liṃge dhyātvā bāhyavidhānataḥ | trisandhyamabhyarcayantī vanyaiḥ puṣpaiḥ phalādibhiḥ

Translation

Ihn allein in einem provisorischen Liṅga betrachtend, verehrte sie nach dem äußeren Ritus und brachte zu den drei Sandhyā-Zeiten des Tages Waldblumen, Früchte und dergleichen dar.

Word by Word

• तम्: him/that (one)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-रूपम् (Pronoun)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्ययम्; अवधान/निश्चयार्थकः

• क्षणिके: in the temporary
• क्षणिके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षणिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• लिङ्गे: in the liṅga (emblem)
• लिङ्गे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated (on)
• ध्यात्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया; धातुः: ध्यै (चिन्तायाम्)

• बाह्य-विधानतः: according to the external procedure
• बाह्य-विधानतः: Hetu/Prakaraṇa (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विधान (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित-अव्यय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (बाह्यं विधानम्); तद्धितान्त-अव्ययम् ‘-तस्’ (ablatival adverb): ‘according to/with respect to’

• त्रि-सन्ध्यम्: thrice daily (at the three sandhyās)
• त्रि-सन्ध्यम्: Kāla/Avadhi (काल/अवधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + सन्ध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समासः; नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (accusative of extent/time)

• अभ्यर्चयन्ती: worshipping
• अभ्यर्चयन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययः), स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदी धातुः अर्च् (पूजायाम्) उपसर्गः ‘अभि’

• वन्यैः: with wild/forest (items)
• वन्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), बहुवचनम्

• फल-आदिभिः: with fruits and the like
• फल-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (फलम् आदिः यस्य/येषाम्—‘fruits etc.’); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), बहुवचनम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse describes an improvised, temporary liṅga (kṣaṇika-liṅga) used for worship in a forest setting; it functions as a portable/constructed emblem rather than a famed sthāvara-jyotirliṅga origin.

Significance: Highlights the efficacy of bhakti and proper worship even with simple, locally available offerings—important for sādhakas without access to major temples.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere bhakti—meditating on Pati (Śiva) even through a simple, temporary liṅga—becomes a valid means of grace when joined with steady daily discipline (trisandhyā).

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

The liṅga serves as the accessible saguna support for contemplation: by fixing the mind on Śiva ‘there’ and honoring Him with offerings, the devotee approaches the formless Lord through a sacred form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform trisandhyā liṅga-pūjā—dhyāna first, then ārādhana with available pure offerings (flowers, fruits). The emphasis is regularity and inward meditation alongside outward rite.