Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

शिवज्ञान-प्रश्नः तथा सृष्टौ शिवस्य स्वयमाविर्भावः

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

Devanagari script

शतकोटिप्रमाणेन विस्तीर्णं ग्रंथसंख्यया । कथितं परमेशेन तत्र पूजा कथं प्रभोः

Transliteration

śatakoṭipramāṇena vistīrṇaṃ graṃthasaṃkhyayā | kathitaṃ parameśena tatra pūjā kathaṃ prabhoḥ

Translation

Diese Lehre ist vom höchsten Herrn dargelegt worden und ist überaus weit—nach der Zahl ihrer Abschnitte bemessen auf hundert koṭis. In einer so gewaltigen Offenbarung, o Gebieter, wie ist die Verehrung des Herrn zu vollziehen?

Word by Word

• śata-koṭi-pramāṇena: by the measure of a hundred crores
• śata-koṭi-pramāṇena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + koṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + pramāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (śatānāṃ koṭīnām pramāṇam) + तृतीया विभक्ति

• vistīrṇam: expanded, extensive
• vistīrṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√stṛ (धातु) → vistīrṇa (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; Past Passive Participle (क्त) used adjectivally

• grantha-saṃkhyayā: by the count/number of books
• grantha-saṃkhyayā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grantha (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (granthānāṃ saṃkhyā)

• kathitam: has been told
• kathitam: Karma (कर्म/Object; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (धातु) → kathita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; Past Passive Participle (क्त), passive sense ‘has been told’

• parameśena: by Parameśa (the Supreme Lord)
• parameśena: Kartṛ (कर्ता/Agent in passive; by whom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• tatra: there, in that (teaching)
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• pūjā: worship
• pūjā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• katham: how?
• katham: Prakāra (प्रकार/Interrogative manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; interrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय)

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

Speaker

A seeker (disciple-like interlocutor) addressing the narrator/teacher in the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā discourse (within Sūta’s transmission to the sages).

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights a core Shaiva concern: even when revelation is vast and complex, liberation-oriented devotion requires a clear, practicable method of worship—turning immense doctrine into lived bhakti and discipline centered on Śiva as Pati (the Lord).

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

By asking “how worship is to be done,” the verse sets up guidance on accessible Saguna worship—typically through Śiva-pūjā and Liṅga-arcana—so that seekers can approach the transcendent Parameśvara through concrete, purifying forms and rites.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse itself is an inquiry that leads into practice; the implied takeaway is to adopt a concise, orthodox Śiva-sādhana—daily pūjā with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, Om Namaḥ Śivāya), supported by Shaiva disciplines such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where taught.