Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 58

दक्षस्य यज्ञप्रवृत्तिः तथा ईश्वरवर्जितदेवसमागमः

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

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्वृषभमारूढे भद्रे तु भसितप्रभः । बभार मौक्तिकं छत्रं गृहीतसितचामरः

Transliteration

tasminvṛṣabhamārūḍhe bhadre tu bhasitaprabhaḥ | babhāra mauktikaṃ chatraṃ gṛhītasitacāmaraḥ

Translation

Lorsque le Seigneur de bon augure—rayonnant de la cendre sacrée (vibhūti)—eut pris place sur le taureau, il porta un parasol royal blanc de perle et tint en sa main un cāmara blanc, éventail de queue de yak.

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in/at that
• तस्मिन्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• वृषभम्: bull
• वृषभम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आरूढे: mounted/ascended
• आरूढे: विशेषण (Adjectival to अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-रुह् (धातु) → आरूढ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying)

• भद्रे: on Bhadra (name)
• भद्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष्य (locus/name)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• भसितप्रभः: the ash-lustrous one
• भसितप्रभः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भसित + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: ‘भसितस्य प्रभा’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• बभार: bore/carried
• बभार: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• मौक्तिकम्: pearl-made
• मौक्तिकम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मौक्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• छत्रम्: umbrella/parasol
• छत्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गृहीतसितचामरः: he who holds a white yak-tail fan
• गृहीतसितचामरः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject; apposition to भसितप्रभः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहीत (ग्रह् धातु, क्त कृदन्त) + सित + चामर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘गृहीते सितचामरे यस्य सः’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्तान्त-विशेषणसमास

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

The verse presents Shiva in a visible, auspicious (saguna) form: radiant with bhasma, mounted on Nandi, and honored with royal insignia. In Shaiva Siddhanta, bhasma signifies purity and the burning away of bondage (pāśa), while Nandi represents steadfast dharma and devoted service to Pati (Shiva).

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

While Linga worship points to Shiva’s transcendent reality, this verse supports saguna upāsanā by portraying Shiva’s divine presence in form—worthy of reverence with ceremonial honors. Such imagery complements Linga worship by training the mind in devotion (bhakti) toward the same Supreme Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The mention of bhasma points to wearing vibhūti/Tripuṇḍra with remembrance of Shiva, contemplating impermanence and inner purification. Devotees may also meditate on Shiva seated upon Nandi as a focus for steady devotion and dharmic discipline.