Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 28

स्कन्दसरः (Skandasara) — तीर्थवर्णनम् / Description of the Skandasara Sacred Lake

Devanagari script

श्रिया च वपुषा चैव त्रिभिश्चापि विलोचनैः । प्राकारैरभिकृत्यानां प्रत्यभिज्ञापकं प्रभोः

Transliteration

śriyā ca vapuṣā caiva tribhiścāpi vilocanaiḥ | prākārairabhikṛtyānāṃ pratyabhijñāpakaṃ prabhoḥ

Translation

An Glanz und Gestalt, und auch an den drei Augen, wird der Herr erkannt; diese besonderen Kennzeichen sind das Mittel, durch das die Schauenden den Meister identifizieren.

Word by Word

• śriyā: by/with splendor
• śriyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• vapuṣā: by/with body/beauty
• vapuṣā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vapus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• tribhiḥ: with three
• tribhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग (all genders), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कार-अव्यय (also/even)

• vilocanaiḥ: with eyes
• vilocanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vilocana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• prākāraiḥ: with enclosures/ramparts
• prākāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• abhikṛtyānām: of the acts/performances (done)
• abhikṛtyānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhikṛtya (कृदन्त; √kṛ कृ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); क्त्य-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive-noun/gerundive-like action-noun)

• pratyabhijñāpakam: causing recognition/identifying
• pratyabhijñāpakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratyabhijñāpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nominative/Accusative 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• prabhoḥ: of the Lord
• prabhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ishana

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the devotee’s recognition of Śiva begins with His gracious, perceptible signs—radiance, sacred form, and the three-eyed nature—through which the soul (paśu) turns toward the Lord (Pati) and is drawn into devotion and liberation.

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

In Saguna-upāsanā, Śiva is approached through identifiable divine characteristics; the same principle supports Liṅga worship, where the Lord’s presence is ‘recognized’ through consecrated signs and the devotee’s contemplative awareness of His auspicious attributes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice dhyāna on Śiva’s auspicious form—especially the three-eyed Lord—while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), using the mind to ‘recognize’ Him through His divine marks during pūjā or japa.