Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 6

कौशिकी-गौरी तथा शार्दूलरूप-निशाचरस्य पूर्वकर्मवर्णनम् | Kauśikī-Gaurī and Brahmā’s account of the tiger-formed niśācara

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तः प्रहसन्ब्रह्मा देवीम्मुग्धामिव स्मयन् । तस्य तीव्रैः पुरावृत्तैर्दौरात्म्यं समवर्णयत्१

Transliteration

ityuktaḥ prahasanbrahmā devīmmugdhāmiva smayan | tasya tīvraiḥ purāvṛttairdaurātmyaṃ samavarṇayat1

Translation

So angesprochen, lachte Brahmā und lächelte, als blicke er auf ein unschuldiges Mädchen; dann schilderte er der Göttin anhand harter Berichte aus der Vergangenheit die grausame und verirrte Natur jenes Wesens.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyopapada (वाक्योपपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• uktaḥ: having been addressed/said to
• uktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• prahasan: laughing
• prahasan: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-has (प्र + हस् धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• devīm: the goddess
• devīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• mugdhām: bewildered/innocent
• mugdhām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mugdhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective qualifying devīm

• iva: as if/like
• iva: Upamāna-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमा-निपात)

• smayan: smiling
• smayan: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smi (स्मि धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tasya: of him/of that one
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tīvraiḥ: by/with harsh
• tīvraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīvra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying purāvṛttaiḥ

• purāvṛttaiḥ: by former events/old deeds
• purāvṛttaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāvṛtta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• daurātmyam: wickedness
• daurātmyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daurātmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• samavarṇayat: described/recounted
• samavarṇayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ava-varṇ (सम् + अव + वर्ण् धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Devi (Goddess/Parvati)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how past actions and tendencies (karmic impressions) are brought to light through truthful narration, so the soul may recognize cruelty (daurātmya) as a form of bondage (pāśa) that must be transcended through dharma and devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

By exposing destructive traits, the narrative implicitly turns the mind toward Saguna Śiva (as the compassionate Lord) and Linga-worship as a stabilizing discipline—redirecting the heart from harshness toward purity, restraint, and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is self-examination with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a vow of conduct (niyama) to abandon cruelty—supported by simple Śaiva observances such as applying bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and cultivating compassion.