Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 80

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

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

Devanagari script

दंडवत्प्रणतिं कृत्वा देवदेवस्य पादयोः । अतिष्ठतां वीतभयावानंदास्तिमितौ तदा

Transliteration

daṃḍavatpraṇatiṃ kṛtvā devadevasya pādayoḥ | atiṣṭhatāṃ vītabhayāvānaṃdāstimitau tadā

Translation

Nachdem sie sich in voller Niederwerfung (daṇḍavat) zu den Füßen des Deva der Devas, des Herrn Śiva, verneigt hatten, standen die beiden dort: furchtlos, den Geist still und in Wonne versunken.

Word by Word

• दण्डवत्: prostrate (like a staff)
• दण्डवत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दण्डवत् (अव्यय/तद्धितान्त)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: like a staff; prostrate)

• प्रणतिम्: salutation/bowing
• प्रणतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having done)

• देवदेवस्य: of the God of gods
• देवदेवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां देवः)

• पादयोः: at the feet
• पादयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), द्विवचन (also used as gen/loc dual in context); here अधिकरण (at the feet)

• अतिष्ठताम्: they two stood
• अतिष्ठताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन; परस्मैपद (they two stood)

• वीतभयौ: free from fear
• वीतभयौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीत-भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (वीतं भयम् यस्य)

• आनन्द: joy
• आनन्द: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासपूर्वपद; ‘joy’

• स्तिमितौ: calm/steady
• स्तिमितौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तिमित (कृदन्त; √स्तिम्/स्तिमित् as adjectival base)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; भूतकृदन्त/विशेषण (calm, motionless)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb: then)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that surrender at Śiva’s feet (bhakti with humility) dissolves fear (bhaya) and steadies the mind in bliss—an immediate sign of Śiva’s grace and the soul’s movement toward liberation.

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

Daṇḍavat praṇāma is a classic act of Saguna Śiva worship—approaching the Lord as the compassionate, accessible Deva. In Linga-worship too, bowing at the “feet” signifies taking refuge in Śiva as Pati, the liberating Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Performing prostration with reverence before Śiva (or the Śiva-liṅga), followed by standing or sitting in quiet stillness—mentally repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—is implied as a simple bhakti-yoga leading to calm and fearlessness.