Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 56

मङ्गलाचरणम्, तीर्थ-परिसरः, सूतागमनम् — Invocation, Sacred Setting, and the Arrival of Sūta

Devanagari script

चतुस्सहस्रसंख्येयं वायवीयमनुत्तमम् । धर्मसंज्ञं पुराणं यत्तद्द्वादशसहस्रकम्

Transliteration

catussahasrasaṃkhyeyaṃ vāyavīyamanuttamam | dharmasaṃjñaṃ purāṇaṃ yattaddvādaśasahasrakam

Translation

Cette Vāyavīya (Saṃhitā) incomparable est comptée à quatre mille (vers). Quant au Purāṇa connu sous le nom de « Dharma », il est compté à douze mille (vers).

Word by Word

• चतुः-सहस्र-संख्येयम्: numbered as four thousand
• चतुः-सहस्र-संख्येयम्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुः + सहस्र + संख्येय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘संख्येय’ = सं + ख्या (धातु) यत्/ण्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त ‘countable/numbered’; समासः—चतुःसहस्रं संख्या यस्य/यावत् (तत्पुरुष)

• वायवीयम्: Vāyavīya
• वायवीयम्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वायवीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed
• अनुत्तमम्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (superlative sense)

• धर्म-संज्ञम्: having the title ‘Dharma’
• धर्म-संज्ञम्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—धर्म इति संज्ञा यस्य (नामधेय-तत्पुरुष)

• पुराणम्: Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: विशेष्य (Head noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यत्: which
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relative reference)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• तत्: that
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Correlative reference)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• द्वादश-सहस्रकम्: (amounting to) twelve thousand
• द्वादश-सहस्रकम्: विशेष्य (Predicate/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश + सहस्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—द्वादश सहस्राणि (twelve thousand)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes scriptural measure and authority: the Vāyavīya portion is praised as supreme, while “Dharma” is identified as a larger Purāṇic body—signaling that Shaiva teaching is grounded in ordered revelation (śāstra) guiding dharma toward liberation under Pati (Śiva).

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

By highlighting the Vāyavīya as “unsurpassed,” the text frames later teachings—often including Linga-centered devotion and disciplined worship—as authoritative means within dharma to approach Saguna Śiva and, through grace, realize the highest truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

No specific rite is prescribed in this verse; the takeaway is adherence to śāstra-based dharma—later expressed in Shaiva practice as mantra-japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī), Linga-pūjā, and disciplined conduct aligned with Śiva’s teaching.