Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 20

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

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

Devanagari script

वामे पाशांकुशौ तद्वत्खेटं नागं च बिभ्रती । बालार्कसदृशप्रख्या प्रतिवक्त्रं त्रिलोचना

Transliteration

vāme pāśāṃkuśau tadvatkheṭaṃ nāgaṃ ca bibhratī | bālārkasadṛśaprakhyā prativaktraṃ trilocanā

Translation

In ihren linken Händen trägt sie ebenso Schlinge (pāśa) und Treibhaken (aṅkuśa), dazu Schild und Schlange. Leuchtend wie die aufgehende Sonne ist sie dreiäugig und mit einem Antlitz zu jeder Himmelsrichtung gewandt — eine ehrfurchtgebietende Saguna-Gestalt, geeignet für konzentrierte Verehrung.

Word by Word

• वामे: on the left (side)
• वामे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• पाश-अङ्कुशौ: noose and goad
• पाश-अङ्कुशौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुल्यताबोधक (adverb: ‘likewise/in the same way’)

• खेटम्: shield
• खेटम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खेट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• नागम्: serpent
• नागम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• बिभ्रती: bearing/holding
• बिभ्रती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• बाल-अर्क-सदृश-प्रख्या: radiant like the rising sun
• बाल-अर्क-सदृश-प्रख्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• प्रति-वक्त्रम्: for each face / face-wise
• प्रति-वक्त्रम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे/वर्णनार्थे (adverbial: ‘face by face/at each face’)

• त्रि-लोचना: three-eyed
• त्रि-लोचना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: The multi-faced, three-eyed, radiant form conveys the Lord’s/Śakti’s all-directional sovereignty; for the paśu it functions as a contemplative antidote to limited perception (tirodhāna), opening toward grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse presents a saguna (formed) vision of the Divine Mother aligned with Shaiva thought: her three eyes signify transcendent awareness, and her radiance like the rising sun points to awakening consciousness that dispels inner darkness, aiding dhyana and bhakti toward Pati (Shiva).

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

While the Linga is the aniconic sign of Shiva, the Purana also authorizes saguna contemplations: meditating on Devi’s empowered form supports steadiness of mind and devotion, which culminate in Shiva-realization—Linga worship and deity-form dhyana functioning as complementary paths.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use this description for dhyana: visualize the radiant, three-eyed Devi holding pasha and ankusha, then recite the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with mental steadiness; optionally apply tripuṇḍra bhasma and maintain a pure, focused posture during japa.