Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 24

शिवज्ञान-प्रश्नः तथा सृष्टौ शिवस्य स्वयमाविर्भावः

Inquiry into Śiva-knowledge and Śiva’s self-manifestation in creation

Devanagari script

स्तोत्रैर्माहेश्वरैर्दिव्यैः श्रोतैः पौराणिकैरपि । देवो ऽपि देवानालोक्य घृणया वृषभध्वजः

Transliteration

stotrairmāheśvarairdivyaiḥ śrotaiḥ paurāṇikairapi | devo 'pi devānālokya ghṛṇayā vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ

Translation

Selbst der Herr—Śiva, dessen Banner den Stier trägt—wurde, als er die Götter erblickte, von Mitgefühl bewegt, während sie Ihn mit göttlichen Maheśvara-Hymnen und mit den ehrwürdigen, aus der Überlieferung gehörten purāṇischen Gesängen priesen.

Word by Word

• स्तोत्रैः: with hymns
• स्तोत्रैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• माहेश्वरैः: Maheśvara-related (Śaiva)
• माहेश्वरैः: करण-विशेषण (Instrument-qualifier/करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माहेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; महेश्वर-सम्बन्धि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (स्तोत्रैः इत्यस्य)

• दिव्यैः: divine
• दिव्यैः: करण-विशेषण (Instrument-qualifier/करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (स्तोत्रैः इत्यस्य)

• श्रोतैः: by/with reciters (hearers)
• श्रोतैः: सहकारक/करण (Accompaniment or instrument in sense of agents)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोतृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; 'hearers/reciters' (agent noun)

• पौराणिकैः: purāṇic (traditional)
• पौराणिकैः: सहकारक/करण-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौराणिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (श्रोतैः इत्यस्य) — 'purāṇic/traditional'

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• देवः: the Lord (god)
• देवः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• आलोक्य: having seen
• आलोक्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action/पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + लोक् (धातु) → आलोक्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्/क्त्वा-अव्ययभाव)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund) — पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having looked at/seeing)

• घृणया: with compassion
• घृणया: करण (Instrument/करण) (भाव-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक — 'out of compassion'

• वृषभध्वजः: the one whose banner is the bull (Śiva)
• वृषभध्वजः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता) (देवः इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (वृषभः ध्वजः यस्य सः) — epithet of Śiva

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace): sincere stotra and Purāṇic śravaṇa/recitation awaken divine compassion, showing Pati (Śiva) responding mercifully to the devas and, by extension, to devoted beings.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna devotion—praising the Bull-bannered Lord with hymns and sacred narratives. Such worship naturally supports Liṅga-upāsanā, where devotees approach Śiva through form, mantra, and stotra to receive his compassionate grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular stotra-japa and Purāṇic śravaṇa (listening/reciting Shiva Purana), ideally alongside Om Namaḥ Śivāya, can be adopted as a bhakti-sādhana to invite Śiva’s grace and soften the heart through compassion.