Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 32

लिङ्गप्रतिष्ठा-माहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of Liṅga Installation

Devanagari script

मुष्टिभिर्न्निघ्नतोस्तीव्रं रजसा बद्धवैरयोः । तयोर्दर्पापहाराय प्रबोधाय च देवयोः

Transliteration

muṣṭibhirnnighnatostīvraṃ rajasā baddhavairayoḥ | tayordarpāpahārāya prabodhāya ca devayoḥ

Translation

Als jene beiden Götter—durch heftige Feindschaft gebunden—einander mit den Fäusten schlugen und dichte Staubwolken aufwirbelten, geschah dies, um ihren Hochmut zu nehmen und beide Götter zu wahrer Erkenntnis zu erwecken.

Word by Word

• मुष्टिभिः: with fists
• मुष्टिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); बहुवचन

• निघ्नतोः: of the two striking
• निघ्नतोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + हन् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); परस्मैपदी; द्विवचन; षष्ठी (Genitive) प्रयोगः—‘of the two striking’

• तीव्रम्: intense
• तीव्रम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीव्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying रजः/रजसा-जन्यं)

• रजसा: by/with dust
• रजसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental); एकवचन

• बद्ध-वैरयोः: of the two with bound enmity
• बद्ध-वैरयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बद्ध (कृदन्त; √बन्ध्) + वैर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive); द्विवचन; कर्मधारयसमास (baddhaṃ vairam yayor = whose enmity is fixed)

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (Genitive); द्विवचन

• दर्प-अपहाराय: for the removal of pride
• दर्प-अपहाराय: Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्प (प्रातिपदिक) + अपहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative); एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (darpasya apahāraḥ)

• प्रबोधाय: for awakening
• प्रबोधाय: Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रबोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (Dative); एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• देवयोः: of the two gods
• देवयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive); द्विवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

The verse frames conflict as a divinely permitted means to dissolve darpa (ego) and produce prabodha (awakening), aligning with Shaiva thought that bondage (pāśa) is fundamentally rooted in ignorance and pride.

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

It points to Saguna Shiva’s governance of events: even the devas are corrected through circumstances that humble them, guiding them back toward dharma and devotion—an implicit call to seek refuge in Shiva’s stabilizing presence symbolized by the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily ego-purification through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and self-inquiry before worship, offering one’s pride into Shiva as an inner oblation.