Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

पुष्पपट्टपरिस्तीर्णं चित्ररत्नमहासनम् । वज्रजालकिरच्छिद्रमच्छिद्रमणिकुट्टिमम्

Transliteration

puṣpapaṭṭaparistīrṇaṃ citraratnamahāsanam | vajrajālakiracchidramacchidramaṇikuṭṭimam

Translation

Ce grand trône, resplendissant de joyaux aux mille couleurs, était recouvert d’un voile floral. Il était protégé par un treillis en forme de filet, d’éclat adamantin, et reposait sur un pavement sans défaut, incrusté de gemmes intactes.

Word by Word

• puṣpa-paṭṭa-paristīrṇam: spread/strewn with flower-cloths
• puṣpa-paṭṭa-paristīrṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + paṭṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + pari√stṝ (धातु) → paristīrṇa (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (puṣpa-paṭṭa = ‘of flower-cloths/flower-bands’)

• citra-ratna-mahā-āsanam: a great seat adorned with variegated jewels
• citra-ratna-mahā-āsanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक/उपसर्गवत्) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महद् आसनम्; चित्ररत्नैः युक्तम्)

• vajra-jāla-kira-cchidram: having perforations like a diamond-net pattern
• vajra-jāla-kira-cchidram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक) + kira (प्रातिपदिक) + chidra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (vajra-jāla = ‘diamond-net’; kira-chidra = ‘having perforations/holes’)

• acchidra-maṇi-kuṭṭimam: a flawless jewel-pavement (without cracks/holes)
• acchidra-maṇi-kuṭṭimam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + chidra (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṭṭima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (acchidra = ‘without holes’; maṇi-kuṭṭima = ‘jewel-pavement’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The flawless jeweled seat and unbroken gem-pavement symbolize the purity and completeness of Śiva’s divine order (Pati), where no defect of bondage (pāśa) can remain; it evokes the perfected, luminous realm attained through devotion and right knowledge.

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

The verse presents a Saguna (manifest) vision—divine throne, radiance, and celestial splendor—supporting temple and Liṅga worship where the devotee contemplates Śiva’s auspicious form as a doorway to realizing the transcendent (Nirguna) reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests śuddhi (inner purification) and dhyāna: visualize a spotless sacred seat for Śiva in the heart, then offer mental पुष्प (flowers) and repeat the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as an inner upacāra (service).