Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 27

दक्षयज्ञदर्शनम् — The Vision of Dakṣa’s Great Sacrifice

and the Onset of Vīrabhadra’s Terror

Devanagari script

तत्र दिव्यान्नपानानां राशयः पर्वतोपमाः । क्षीरनद्यो ऽमृतस्रावाः सुस्निग्धदधिकर्दमाः

Transliteration

tatra divyānnapānānāṃ rāśayaḥ parvatopamāḥ | kṣīranadyo 'mṛtasrāvāḥ susnigdhadadhikardamāḥ

Translation

Là, des monceaux de mets et de boissons célestes se dressaient tels des montagnes. Des rivières de lait coulaient, répandant l’amṛta, et leurs rives et leurs limons étaient de caillé (dadhi) onctueux, doux et abondant.

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• divya-anna-pānānām: of divine foods and drinks
• divya-anna-pānānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक) + anna (प्रातिपदिक) + pāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; द्वन्द्वः—‘अन्न’ and ‘पान’ (foods and drinks) with adjective ‘divya’ qualifying the compound

• rāśayaḥ: heaps
• rāśayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāśi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• parvata-upamāḥ: mountain-like
• parvata-upamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक) + upamā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः—‘पर्वतस्य उपमा’ = like mountains; adjective of ‘rāśayaḥ’

• kṣīra-nadyaḥ: rivers of milk
• kṣīra-nadyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक) + nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘क्षीरस्य नद्यः’

• amṛta-srāvāḥ: nectar-flowing
• amṛta-srāvāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + srāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; बहुव्रीहिः—‘अमृतं स्रवति यस्याः’ (those from which nectar flows), qualifying ‘nadyaḥ’

• su-snigdha-dadhi-kardamāḥ: having very smooth curd-slush
• su-snigdha-dadhi-kardamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + snigdha (प्रातिपदिक) + dadhi (प्रातिपदिक) + kardama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; बहुव्रीहिः—‘सुस्निग्धं दधि-कर्दमं यस्याः’ (having very smooth curd-mud/slush), qualifying ‘nadyaḥ’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The imagery resembles a deceptive/otherworldly abundance around a conflict-field—opulence that can function as tirodhāna (concealment) by enticing beings into attachment.

Significance: Warns that even ‘divine’ enjoyments (bhoga) can bind the paśu; discernment and devotion convert abundance into offering rather than attachment.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

It portrays a divinely sustained realm where abundance flows effortlessly, symbolizing that higher states arise by Pati (Shiva)’s grace—not merely by worldly striving—and that true fulfillment is ultimately perfected when the soul turns from enjoyment to liberation.

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

Such descriptions of celestial plenty are traditionally understood as fruits of devotion to Saguna Shiva (including Linga worship): the Lord grants auspicious enjoyments, yet the text’s larger Shaiva aim is to lead the devotee from granted boons toward steadiness in Shiva-bhakti and final release.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to treat all “nourishment” as Shiva’s prasada: practice daily Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and a sāttvika offering (naivedya), cultivating detachment while acknowledging Shiva as the giver of all fruits.