Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 55

दक्षस्य यज्ञप्रवृत्तिः तथा ईश्वरवर्जितदेवसमागमः

Dakṣa’s Sacrificial Undertaking and the Devas’ Assembly without Īśvara

Devanagari script

निपेतुर्भृशमाकाशे शतशस्सिंहवाहनाः । विनेदुश्च महानादाञ्जलदा इव भद्रजाः

Transliteration

nipeturbhṛśamākāśe śataśassiṃhavāhanāḥ | vineduśca mahānādāñjaladā iva bhadrajāḥ

Translation

Alors, dans le ciel, des centaines et des centaines de cavaliers sur lions fondirent avec une force immense ; et ils rugirent de cris puissants, tels des nuées de pluie propices grondant de tonnerre.

Word by Word

• nipetuḥ: they descended/fell
• nipetuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√pat (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘they fell down/descended’

• bhṛśam: violently, greatly
• bhṛśam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhṛśam (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• ākāśe: in the sky
• ākāśe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative ‘in the sky’

• śataśaḥ: by hundreds, in hundreds
• śataśaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śataśaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: वितरण/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (distributive adverb)

• siṃha-vāhanāḥ: lion-mounted
• siṃha-vāhanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + vāhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (षष्ठी); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘having a lion as vehicle’

• vineduḥ: they roared
• vineduḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√nad (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘they roared/sounded’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• mahā-nādān: great roars
• mahā-nādān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमासः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; ‘great sounds/roars’

• jaladāḥ: clouds
• jaladāḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jalada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘clouds’

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• bhadra-jāḥ: the Bhadrā-born (Bhadragaṇas)
• bhadra-jāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘born of/connected with Bhadrā’ (contextually: Bhadragaṇas)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: storm-cloud imagery; descent from the sky suggesting a theophanic ‘covering’ (tirodhāna)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse uses awe-filled imagery—descent from the sky and thunder-like roars—to convey how the Lord’s cosmic order (Pati) can manifest with overwhelming power, shaking the pashu (bound soul) out of complacency and turning attention toward Shiva as the supreme refuge.

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

Such dramatic manifestations support Saguna Shiva devotion: the devotee remembers that Shiva’s grace can appear through powerful attendants and omens, ultimately guiding the mind to steadiness in Linga-worship where the formless (Nirguna) is approached through a sacred form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind amid fear or noise by japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and to ground devotion with Shaiva marks like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudraksha, transforming agitation into remembrance of Shiva.