Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 51

उपमन्युतपः-निवारणप्रसङ्गः / Śiva restrains Upamanyu’s tapas (Śiva disguised as Indra)

Devanagari script

अथ शंभुः प्रसन्नात्मा दृष्ट्वा तस्य तपोमहः । पुनर्ददौ वरं दिव्यं मुनये ह्युपमन्यवे

Transliteration

atha śaṃbhuḥ prasannātmā dṛṣṭvā tasya tapomahaḥ | punardadau varaṃ divyaṃ munaye hyupamanyave

Translation

Dann gewährte Śambhu, im Herzen gnädig und still, als er die Größe der Askese jenes Weisen schaute, dem Muni Upamanyu erneut einen göttlichen Segen.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ/अनन्तर (sequence marker)

• शंभुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रसन्नात्मा: of pleased disposition
• प्रसन्नात्मा: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to शंभुः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: प्रसन्नः आत्मा यस्य सः (one whose self/mind is pleased)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having seen’

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तपोमहः: the greatness of (his) austerity
• तपोमहः: Karma (कर्म/Object of दृष्ट्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् + महस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: तपसः महः (greatness/glory of austerity)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (adverb: again)

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (वरम्)

• मुनये: to the sage
• मुनये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipata (निपात/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतुवाचक निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• उपमन्यवे: to Upamanyu
• उपमन्यवे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान; apposition to मुनये)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपमन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष्य-निर्देश (proper noun)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā account to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Śadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Upamanyu

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace): when devotion and disciplined tapas mature, the Lord becomes prasanna (gracious) and grants divine upliftment—showing that liberation-oriented blessings arise from sincere practice aligned to dharma.

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

Śambhu’s personal bestowal of a boon reflects Saguna Śiva responding to a devotee’s worship and austerity; in Shiva Purana theology, Linga-worship and bhakti are primary means by which the devotee encounters Śiva’s compassionate, boon-giving presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse endorses tapas guided by devotion—such as vrata (vowed discipline), japa of Śiva-mantras (notably the Panchākṣarī, Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and steady meditation on Śiva—performed with purity and perseverance to invite Śiva’s grace.