Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 57

सर्‍वेश्वर-परमकारण-निरूपणम् / The Supreme Lord as the Uncaused Cause

Devanagari script

तद्वनं तेन विख्यातं नैमिषं मुनिपूजितम् । अनेकयक्षगंधर्वविद्याधरसमाकुलम्

Transliteration

tadvanaṃ tena vikhyātaṃ naimiṣaṃ munipūjitam | anekayakṣagaṃdharvavidyādharasamākulam

Translation

Darum ist jener Wald als Naimiṣa berühmt, von den Weisen verehrt und angebetet; er wimmelt von vielen Yakṣas, Gandharvas und Vidyādharas.

Word by Word

• tat-vanam: that forest
• tat-vanam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad + vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय-समास: ‘tat vanaṃ’ (that forest)

• tena: by that, because of that
• tena: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• vikhyātam: renowned, well-known
• vikhyātam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-khyā (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying ‘tat-vanam’

• naimiṣam: Naimiṣa (named)
• naimiṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naimiṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); adjective/name qualifying ‘vanam’

• muni-pūjitam: worshipped by sages
• muni-pūjitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muni + pūjita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past passive participle (क्त) from √pūj; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘munibhiḥ pūjitam’ (worshipped by sages)

• aneka-yakṣa-gandharva-vidyādhara-samākulam: crowded with many yakṣas, gandharvas, and vidyādharas
• aneka-yakṣa-gandharva-vidyādhara-samākulam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aneka + yakṣa + gandharva + vidyādhara + samākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘aneka-…-samākulam’ = ‘filled with many Yakṣas, Gandharvas, and Vidyādharas’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Because the cakra-rim (nemi) broke there, the forest becomes famed as Naimiṣa; it is ‘munipūjita’ and populated by semi-divine beings (yakṣa, gandharva, vidyādhara), marking it as a liminal sacred realm suited for long sacrifices and Purāṇic recitation.

Significance: Naimiṣa is presented as a siddha-kṣetra where tapas, śravaṇa, and yajña bear accelerated fruit; the presence of celestial beings implies heightened ‘kṣetra-śakti’ supporting anugraha for seekers.

Characters & Entities

• Naimisharanya
• Sages (Munis)
• Yakshas
• Gandharvas
• Vidyadharas

FAQs

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

It establishes Naimiṣāraṇya as a sanctified space where rishis gather for dharma and Shiva-kathā; the presence of celestial beings highlights the subtle purity and spiritual potency of the place.

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

By foregrounding a revered tīrtha where sages worship, the verse frames the setting in which Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-upāsanā, vows, and recitation) is traditionally performed and taught.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Pilgrimage to a sacred kṣetra, staying in the company of sages (satsaṅga), and attentive listening/recitation of Shiva Purana teachings—supported by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as a fitting practice in such a holy forest.