Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 31

अन्तराय-उपसर्ग-विवेचनम् / Analysis of Yogic Obstacles (Antarāyas) and Upasargas

Devanagari script

अनिलैश्वर्यसंयुक्तं चत्वारिंशद्गुणं महत् । ऐन्द्रमैश्वर्यमाख्यातमाम्बरं तत्प्रचक्षते

Transliteration

anilaiśvaryasaṃyuktaṃ catvāriṃśadguṇaṃ mahat | aindramaiśvaryamākhyātamāmbaraṃ tatpracakṣate

Translation

Diese große Souveränität, verbunden mit der herrscherlichen Macht des Windes, gilt als vierzigfach an Vorzüglichkeit. Sie wird als Indras Majestät verkündet und als dem himmlischen, ätherischen Bereich zugehörig beschrieben.

Word by Word

• अनिल-ऐश्वर्य-संयुक्तम्: endowed with the lordly power of wind
• अनिल-ऐश्वर्य-संयुक्तम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिल (प्रातिपदिक) + ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषणरूपेण

• चत्वारिंशत्-गुणम्: having forty qualities / fortyfold
• चत्वारिंशत्-गुणम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चत्वारिंशत् (संख्या; प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः (संख्यापूर्वकः)

• महत्: great
• महत्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ऐन्द्रम्: belonging to Indra
• ऐन्द्रम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक; इन्द्र-सम्बन्धी)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ऐश्वर्यम्: sovereignty, lordly power
• ऐश्वर्यम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• आख्यातम्: is called/declared
• आख्यातम्: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय (Predicative participle/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√ख्या (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः—“called/declared”

• अम्बरम्: sky, atmosphere
• अम्बरम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रचक्षते: they call/describe
• प्रचक्षते: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Vayu
• Indra

FAQs

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

It ranks celestial forms of sovereignty—Vāyu-linked and Indra-linked—as measurable and limited excellences, implying that such powers remain within the cosmic order and are ultimately surpassed by devotion to Pati (Shiva), the supreme Lord beyond all graded aiśvarya.

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

By highlighting the grandeur of Indra and Vāyu as still classifiable ‘aiśvarya,’ the text implicitly directs the seeker from admiration of heavenly dominions toward Saguna Shiva worship—especially the Linga—through which one seeks not merely higher realms but Shiva’s grace that liberates from bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to treat siddhi-like ‘aiśvarya’ as secondary and stabilize practice in Shiva-upāsanā—japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa—aiming for inner purity rather than celestial status.