Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

तप्तकंचननिर्व्यूहं रत्नस्तंभशतावृतम् । वज्रकल्पितसोपानं विद्रुमस्तंभतोरणम्

Transliteration

taptakaṃcananirvyūhaṃ ratnastaṃbhaśatāvṛtam | vajrakalpitasopānaṃ vidrumastaṃbhatoraṇam

Translation

C'était une structure splendide faite d'or chauffé, entourée de centaines de piliers de bijoux ; ses escaliers étaient façonnés comme le diamant (vajra), et ses portes étaient ornées de piliers de corail.

Word by Word

• tapta-kaṃcana-nirvyūham: a structure of molten/heated gold
• tapta-kaṃcana-nirvyūham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapta + kaṃcana + nirvyūha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः तप्तकञ्चननिर्व्यूह (बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'structure of heated gold')

• ratna-stambha-śata-āvṛtam: surrounded by a hundred jewel-pillars
• ratna-stambha-śata-āvṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratna + stambha + śata + āvṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः रत्नस्तम्भशतावृत (तत्पुरुष: 'covered/surrounded by a hundred jewel-pillars')

• vajra-kalpita-sopānam: with stairways fashioned of diamond
• vajra-kalpita-sopānam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra + kalpita + sopāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः वज्रकल्पितसोपान (तत्पुरुष: 'having steps made of diamond')

• vidruma-stambha-toraṇam: a gateway with coral pillars
• vidruma-stambha-toraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidruma + stambha + toraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः विद्रुमस्तम्भतोरण (तत्पुरुष: 'gateway with coral pillars')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse uses luminous materials—gold, jewels, vajra-like steps, and coral gates—to symbolize the purity, invincibility, and auspicious radiance of Shiva’s sacred domain, guiding the devotee’s mind from worldly perception toward reverent contemplation of the Lord’s presence.

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

Such descriptions support Saguna-upasana: the devotee approaches Shiva through a sanctified, visually ordered sacred space (mandira/kshetra), which steadies the mind for focused worship of the Linga and remembrance of Shiva as Pati, the Lord who grants grace and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests temple-oriented bhakti: approach with purity, offer mental or physical worship, and stabilize attention by japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while visualizing a radiant, orderly abode of Shiva.