Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

मणिदंडमनोज्ञेन महावृषभलक्ष्मणा । अलंकृतपुरोभागमब्भ्रशुब्भ्रेण केतुना

Transliteration

maṇidaṃḍamanojñena mahāvṛṣabhalakṣmaṇā | alaṃkṛtapurobhāgamabbhraśubbhreṇa ketunā

Translation

Sa partie antérieure était magnifiquement ornée : un bâton agréable serti de gemmes, marqué de l’emblème du Grand Taureau (Vṛṣabha), et couronné d’une bannière blanche, éclatante comme un nuage.

Word by Word

• maṇi-daṇḍa-manojñena: with a pleasing jeweled staff
• maṇi-daṇḍa-manojñena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + manojña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भतः विशेषण), तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (maṇi-daṇḍa = ‘with jeweled staff/rod’; manojña = ‘pleasing’)

• mahā-vṛṣabha-lakṣmaṇā: with the emblem of a great bull
• mahā-vṛṣabha-lakṣmaṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भतः विशेषण), तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (mahā-vṛṣabha = ‘great bull’; lakṣmaṇa = ‘mark/emblem’)

• alaṃkṛta-puro-bhāgam: having the front portion ornamented
• alaṃkṛta-puro-bhāgam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alaṃ√kṛ (धातु) → alaṃkṛta (कृदन्त) + puras (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘decorated’; समासः तत्पुरुषः (puro-bhāga = ‘front part’)

• abbhra-śubbhreṇa: cloud-white
• abbhra-śubbhreṇa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abbhra (प्रातिपदिक) + śubhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भतः विशेषण), तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (abbhra-śubhra = ‘cloud-white’)

• ketunā: with a banner/standard
• ketunā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ketu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s auspicious insignia—especially the great Bull—signifying Dharma, steadfast devotion, and the pure, elevating presence of Pati (Shiva) whose sacred marks guide the bound soul (paśu) toward liberation.

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

It supports Saguna worship by describing sacred iconographic features (banner, emblem, staff) that focus the mind in bhakti; such visible auspicious marks function like the Linga—an accessible support for contemplation of Shiva’s transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva with Nandi as the emblem of unwavering devotion; in temple practice, offer reverence first to Nandi and then to the Linga while repeating the Panchakshara mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating purity (śubhra) of mind.