Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

Mantra Efficacy, Removal of Obstacles, and the Role of Faith/Discipline

Devanagari script

तप्तजांबूनदमयमष्टपत्रं सकेसरम् । मध्ये कर्णिकया युक्तं सर्वरत्नैरलंकृतम्

Transliteration

taptajāṃbūnadamayamaṣṭapatraṃ sakesaram | madhye karṇikayā yuktaṃ sarvaratnairalaṃkṛtam

Translation

Es war aus erhitztem Jāmbūnada-Gold gefertigt: ein achtblättriger Lotus mit seinen Staubfäden; in der Mitte war er mit einer Karṇikā versehen und mit jeder Art von Edelsteinen geschmückt.

Word by Word

• tapta-jāmbūnada-mayam: made of heated Jāmbūnada-gold
• tapta-jāmbūnada-mayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapta (प्रातिपदिक) + jāmbūnada (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; ‘तप्तजाम्बूनदस्य मयम्’ (made of heated Jāmbūnada-gold)

• aṣṭa-patram: eight-petalled (lotus)
• aṣṭa-patram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः ‘अष्टौ पत्राणि यस्य’ (eight-petalled)

• sa-kesaram: with filaments
• sa-kesaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + kesara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘केसरैः सह’ (with filaments)

• madhye: in the middle
• madhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक (locative singular: in the middle)

• karṇikayā: with a pericarp
• karṇikayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karṇikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; करण/सह (instrumental: with/by a pericarp)

• yuktam: endowed; furnished
• yuktam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yuj (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘युक्तम्’ (endowed/connected)

• sarva-ratnaiḥ: with all gems
• sarva-ratnaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; ‘सर्वैः रत्नैः’ (instrumental plural)

• alaṃkṛtam: adorned
• alaṃkṛtam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: alaṃ + √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘अलंकृतम्’ (adorned)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The jeweled eight-petalled lotus symbolizes the purified heart-lotus (aṣṭadala) offered to Pati (Śiva): devotion refined by discipline, with the radiant center indicating the indwelling Lord who is realized when impurities (pāśa) are removed.

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

Such ornate lotus imagery supports saguna-upāsanā—worship of Śiva with form and auspicious attributes—where beauty, order, and precious substances externalize inner reverence while the devotee contemplates the Linga as the stable center (karṇikā) of awareness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use the lotus as an inner visualization: meditate on an eight-petalled heart-lotus and place Śiva (or the Linga) in its center while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering mental flowers with steadiness and purity.