Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 67

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

Devanagari script

भानुवर्णस्य पद्मस्य ध्येयं तद्१ हृदयान्तरे । गोक्षीरधवलस्योक्ता डादिफान्ता यथाक्रमम्

Transliteration

bhānuvarṇasya padmasya dhyeyaṃ tad1 hṛdayāntare | gokṣīradhavalasyoktā ḍādiphāntā yathākramam

Translation

Within the region of the heart, one should meditate upon that lotus, radiant like the sun. It is taught to be white like cow’s milk, and (its features or letters) are said to proceed in due order, beginning with “ḍa” and ending with “pha”.

Word by Word

• भानुवर्णस्य: of sun-color / sun-hued
• भानुवर्णस्य: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भानु + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘भानोः वर्णः’), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — genitive singular

• पद्मस्य: of the lotus
• पद्मस्य: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — genitive singular

• ध्येयम्: to be meditated upon
• ध्येयम्: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यै (धातु) → ध्येय (कृदन्त)
• Form: भाव्य/अनीयर्-तुल्य (यत्/ण्यत्) कृदन्त ‘to be meditated upon’, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — predicative

• तत्: that
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Anaphoric reference)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘that’ (referring to padma)

• हृदयान्तरे: within the heart
• हृदयान्तरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/अधिकरण: ‘हृदयस्य अन्तरम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — locative singular

• गोक्षीरधवलस्य: of milk-white (like cow’s milk)
• गोक्षीरधवलस्य: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोक्षीर + धवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (कर्मधारय/उपमान: ‘गोक्षीरवत् धवलः’), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — genitive singular

• उक्ता: is said/declared
• उक्ता: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicative verbal)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘is said/declared’ (elliptic copula)

• डादिफान्ता: beginning with ḍa and ending with pha
• डादिफान्ता: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ड + आदि + फ + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (आदि-अन्त: ‘डादिः…फान्तः’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — agreeing with वर्णमाला (implied)

• यथाक्रमम्: in sequence
• यथाक्रमम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास — adverb ‘in due order’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It directs the seeker to internalize worship: meditating on the radiant heart-lotus symbolizes turning awareness inward where Shiva, the Pati, is realized beyond external supports—purifying the pashu (bound soul) and loosening pasha (bondage).

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

The heart-lotus functions as an inner shrine: just as the Linga is the sacred focus outwardly, this verse teaches an inner saguna support—visualizing a pure, luminous form—so devotion and concentration mature toward deeper realization of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A dhyāna practice: contemplate a sun-bright yet milk-white lotus in the heart-space and recite/arrange the indicated syllables in sequence (“ḍa…pha”) as taught by the tradition, using ordered japa to stabilize meditation.