Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 61

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

Devanagari script

विद्येश्वरं द्विसाहस्रं रौद्रं पञ्चशतायुतम् । त्रिंशत्तथा द्विसाहस्रं सार्धैकशतमीरितम्

Transliteration

vidyeśvaraṃ dvisāhasraṃ raudraṃ pañcaśatāyutam | triṃśattathā dvisāhasraṃ sārdhaikaśatamīritam

Translation

On dit que la section Vidyeśvara compte deux mille (vers) ; la section Raudra, cinquante mille. De même, trente-deux mille et cent cinquante sont déclarés (pour les autres sections).

Word by Word

• vidyeśvaram: Vidyeśvara (section/name)
• vidyeśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (vidyānām īśvaraḥ)

• dvi-sāhasram: two thousand
• dvi-sāhasram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + sāhasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (two-thousand)

• raudram: Raudra (section)
• raudram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम (section/title)

• pañca-śata-āyutam: five hundred āyutas (a large count)
• pañca-śata-āyutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (संख्या) + śata (प्रातिपदिक) + āyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (five-hundred āyutas)

• triṃśat: thirty
• triṃśat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: triṃśat (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्याशब्दः (thirty)

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

• dvi-sāhasram: two thousand
• dvi-sāhasram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + sāhasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः

• sārdha-eka-śatam: one hundred and a half (150)
• sārdha-eka-śatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sārdha (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + eka (संख्या) + śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः; sārdha = ‘with an additional half’ → 150

• īritam: is stated
• īritam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īr (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘stated/declared’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A numerical colophon-like statement giving verse-counts of major portions (Vidyeśvara, Raudra, etc.), not tied to a specific sacred site narrative.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the Purana as a deliberately arranged śāstra: different sections carry different emphases—devotion, worship-methods, and higher teaching—guiding the bound soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati) through graded instruction.

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

By naming the Vidyeśvara and Raudra divisions, it points readers to the portions where Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā, mantra, and observances—is systematized and taught as a means to grace (anugraha).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse itself is an enumeration, but it implicitly directs seekers to study the Vidyeśvara/Raudra teachings where practices like Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), and Rudrākṣa discipline are prescribed.