Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 71

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga

Devanagari script

युवां प्रभुत्वे ऽहंकृत्य बुद्धवैरो परस्परम् । विवादं युद्धपर्यंतं कृत्वा नोपरतौ किल

Transliteration

yuvāṃ prabhutve 'haṃkṛtya buddhavairo parasparam | vivādaṃ yuddhaparyaṃtaṃ kṛtvā noparatau kila

Translation

Aus Ichdünkel über die Herrschaft wurdet ihr beide einander im Geist feindselig; ihr triebt den Streit bis an den Rand des Krieges und ließet dennoch nicht ab, wahrlich.

Word by Word

• yuvām: you two
• yuvām: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Dual (द्विवचन), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया)

• prabhutve: in lordship/supremacy
• prabhutve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhutva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ahaṃkṛtya: having become egoistic / having acted with ego
• ahaṃkṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ahaṃkṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √ahaṃkṛ (अहंकृ)

• buddha-vairaḥ: enmity (arising) from understanding/conviction
• buddha-vairaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddha (प्रातिपदिक) + vaira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• parasparam: mutually
• parasparam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paraspara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverbial reciprocal (परस्परम्)

• vivādam: dispute
• vivādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vivāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• yuddha-paryantam: ending in battle
• yuddha-paryantam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + paryanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adjectivally qualifying vivādam

• kṛtvā: having done/made
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √kṛ (कृ)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), negation particle (निषेध)

• uparatau: (you two) did not desist/cease
• uparatau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uparati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• kila: indeed/it is said
• kila: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kila (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle indicating report/emphasis (खलु/किल)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya discourse to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General mythic backdrop: rivalry of Brahmā and Viṣṇu due to ahaṃkāra; often resolved by Śiva’s self-manifestation (liṅga/tejas) to end dispute.

Significance: Admonition for pilgrims: pride over ‘prabhutva’ (authority) is a bondage (pāśa) that leads to conflict; worship cultivates humility and harmony.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It warns that ahankāra (ego) turns even great beings toward mental enmity and conflict; in Shaiva Siddhanta this is a form of pāśa (bondage) that must be dissolved by turning to Pati (Shiva) and cultivating humility and discernment.

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

The narrative context commonly contrasts ego-driven claims to supremacy with the Linga as Shiva’s transcendent sign—teaching that true sovereignty belongs to Shiva (Pati), and devotion to Saguna Shiva/Linga-worship subdues rivalry and restores right understanding.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a vow of humility, along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as reminders to restrain ego and avoid hostile speech and thought.