Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 78

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

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

Devanagari script

पद्माकरायते वह्निः सरो वैश्वानरायते । वनायते यदुद्यानं तदुद्यानायते वनम्

Transliteration

padmākarāyate vahniḥ saro vaiśvānarāyate | vanāyate yadudyānaṃ tadudyānāyate vanam

Translation

In jenem Zustand geistiger Umkehr erscheint das Feuer wie ein Lotosteich, der See wie lodernde Flamme. Was ein Garten ist, wirkt wie Wald, und was Wald ist, wirkt wie Garten.

Word by Word

• padmākara-āyate: becomes like a lotus-lake
• padmākara-āyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: padmākara (प्रातिपदिक) + √i (धातु) → āyate
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, Ātmanepada; denominative sense 'becomes like padmākara'

• vahniḥ: fire
• vahniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• saraḥ: lake
• saraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā Ekavacana

• vaiśvānara-āyate: becomes like fire
• vaiśvānara-āyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vaiśvānara (प्रातिपदिक) + √i (धातु) → āyate
• Form: Laṭ, Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, Ātmanepada; denominative sense 'becomes like Vaiśvānara (fire)'

• vanam-āyate: becomes like a forest
• vanam-āyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + √i (धातु) → āyate
• Form: Laṭ, Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, Ātmanepada; denominative sense 'becomes like a forest'

• yat: which
• yat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā Ekavacana; relative pronoun

• udyānam: garden
• udyānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā Ekavacana

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदik/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā Ekavacana; correlative pronoun

• udyāna-āyate: becomes like a garden
• udyāna-āyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: udyāna (प्रातिपदिक) + √i (धातु) → āyate
• Form: Laṭ, Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, Ātmanepada; denominative sense 'becomes like a garden'

• vanam: forest
• vanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā Ekavacana

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kali-yuga style viparyaya (cognitive inversion)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It describes how moha (delusion) and māyā can invert perception—making the harmful appear attractive and the beneficial appear frightening. Shaiva Siddhanta frames liberation as Shiva’s grace restoring right knowledge (jñāna) so the bound soul (paśu) sees reality as it is.

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

When perception is distorted, one may misjudge the Linga—seeing it as merely a symbol or ritual object—rather than as the compassionate, accessible form (saguṇa upāsanā) through which Shiva grants clarity, devotion, and inner transformation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with dhyāna and self-inquiry (viveka), supported by Shaiva disciplines like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as reminders to overcome delusion and stabilize awareness.