Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 22

दक्षस्य रुद्रनिन्दा-निमित्तकथनम् / The Cause of Dakṣa’s Censure of Rudra

Devanagari script

अन्योन्यं युध्यतोर्मध्ये हंसयोरिव पंकजम् । छत्रं शशिनिभं तस्याश्चूडोपरि सुमालिनी

Transliteration

anyonyaṃ yudhyatormadhye haṃsayoriva paṃkajam | chatraṃ śaśinibhaṃ tasyāścūḍopari sumālinī

Translation

Mientras ambos parecían contender entre sí, en medio de su combate—como un loto entre dos cisnes—apareció sobre su moño una espléndida sombrilla, radiante como la luna, engalanada con guirnaldas de belleza.

Word by Word

• अन्योन्यम्: mutually, with each other
• अन्योन्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग; क्रियाविशेषण (reciprocal adverb) ‘mutually’

• युध्यतोः: of the two who are fighting
• युध्यतोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier to ‘मध्ये’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), द्विवचन; ‘of two fighting (ones)’

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• हंसयोः: of two swans
• हंसयोः: Upamāna-sambandha (उपमान-सम्बन्ध/Genitive in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक-निपात

• पंकजम्: a lotus
• पंकजम्: Upameya (उपमेय/Thing compared)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पंकज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• छत्रम्: umbrella, parasol
• छत्रम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject) (elliptic: ‘(अस्ति/बभौ)’ understood)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शशि-निभम्: moon-like
• शशि-निभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शशि (प्रातिपदिक) + निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘शशिना निभम्’ = moon-like), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘छत्रम्’ इति विशेषण

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• चूडा-उपरि: upon the topknot/head
• चूडा-उपरि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चूडा (प्रातिपदिक) + उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: उपरि (अव्यय, स्थानवाचक) + षष्ठीसम्बन्ध; ‘on (the) topknot/head’

• सुमालिनी: Sumālinī (the well-garlanded one)
• सुमालिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject) (contextual/elliptic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + मालिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘सु-मालिनी’ = well-garlanded), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (स्त्रीविशेषण/नाम)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

The verse highlights an auspicious, protective sign appearing amid conflict—indicating that divine order (and the Lord’s grace) can manifest even in turmoil, marking the presence of higher auspiciousness guiding events.

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

Though not explicitly about the Linga, the imagery is Saguna—visible symbols (radiance, parasol, ornamentation) that point to an unseen divine governance. In Shaiva practice, such forms train the mind to recognize Shiva’s grace through sacred signs and sanctified perception.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on auspicious radiance (śaśinibha-tejas) as a Shiva-protective presence—paired with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to cultivate steadiness and purity amid inner conflict.