Shloka 14

Śiva’s Boon to Viśvakarman and the Manifestation of Devī

Bhavānī/Parāśakti

Devanagari script

परमां निखिलं भासा भासयन्तीमिदं जगत् । प्रणिपत्य महादेवीं प्रार्थयामास वै विराट्

Transliteration

paramāṃ nikhilaṃ bhāsā bhāsayantīmidaṃ jagat | praṇipatya mahādevīṃ prārthayāmāsa vai virāṭ

Translation

Beholding the Supreme Goddess, whose radiance illumines this entire universe, Virāṭ bowed down in reverence and then humbly entreated Mahādevī.

Word by Word

• paramām: supreme
• paramām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• nikhilam: entire
• nikhilam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nikhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• bhāsā: by (her) radiance
• bhāsā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāsā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (instrumental)

• bhāsayantīm: illuminating
• bhāsayantīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √bhās (भास्) (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/न्त, present active participle) ‘illuminating’

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• jagat: world
• jagat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• praṇipatya: having prostrated
• praṇipatya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-ni-√pat (पत्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive) ‘having bowed down’

• mahādevīm: Mahādevī (great goddess)
• mahādevīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘महती देवī’

• prārthayāmāsa: prayed/beseeched
• prārthayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√arth (अर्थ्)
• Form: लिट् लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘प्रार्थयामास’ = he begged/prayed

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपातः (indeed/emphatic)

• virāṭ: Virāṭ (the cosmic being)
• virāṭ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: virāṭ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Mahādevī

Role: creative

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Mahadevi
• Virat

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that the Divine (Mahādevī) is the supreme luminous power that makes the universe intelligible and manifest; the proper response of the bound soul (pashu) is humility (praṇipāta) and sincere prayer, opening the way for grace that loosens bondage (pāśa).

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

Though Mahādevī is addressed here, the Vāyavīya teaching aligns with Shaiva Siddhānta: devotion to the manifest Divine (saguṇa)—including Shiva as Liṅga and Shakti as the illuminating power—purifies the seeker and prepares the mind to realize the transcendental (nirguṇa) truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate practice implied is praṇāma (prostration) with heartfelt prayer; as a Shaiva takeaway, combine this with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditation on divine light (bhāsā) as the presence of Shiva-Shakti.