Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 28

भद्रस्य देवसंघेषु विक्रमः

Bhadra’s Onslaught among the Deva Hosts

Devanagari script

तच्च विध्वस्तकलशं भग्नयूपं गतोत्सवम् । प्रदीपितमहाशालं प्रभिन्नद्वारतोरणम्

Transliteration

tacca vidhvastakalaśaṃ bhagnayūpaṃ gatotsavam | pradīpitamahāśālaṃ prabhinnadvāratoraṇam

Translation

Et ce lieu apparut avec ses jarres rituelles brisées, son poteau sacrificiel (yūpa) rompu, sa fête éteinte—la grande salle en flammes, et ses portes ainsi que ses arcs (toraṇa) déchirés.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• विध्वस्त-कलशम्: with shattered pots
• विध्वस्त-कलशम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विध्वस्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वि+ध्वंस् धातु, क्त) + कलश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (descriptive: ‘destroyed pots’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (यज्ञवाटम् इति विशेषण)

• भग्न-यूपम्: with broken sacrificial posts
• भग्न-यूपम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भग्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; भञ्ज् धातु, क्त) + यूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (यज्ञवाटम् इति विशेषण)

• गत-उत्सवम्: whose festivities had ceased
• गत-उत्सवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; गम् धातु, क्त) + उत्सव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (‘festival gone’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (यज्ञवाटम् इति विशेषण)

• प्रदीपित-महा-शालम्: with the great hall set ablaze/brightly lit
• प्रदीपित-महा-शालम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रदीपित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; प्र+दीप् धातु, क्त) + महा (प्रातिपदिक) + शाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘great hall that is lit/ablaze’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (यज्ञवाटम् इति विशेषण)

• प्रभिन्न-द्वार-तोरणम्: with doors and archways smashed open
• प्रभिन्न-द्वार-तोरणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रभिन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; प्र+भिद् धातु, क्त) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + तोरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (copulative: ‘doors and arches’ as a set) with descriptive qualifier; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (यज्ञवाटम् इति विशेषण)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; this is the Dakṣa-yajña devastation motif where the sacrificial arena collapses when Śiva’s honor is violated and adharmic ritual proceeds without Śiva.

Significance: Didactic: warns that yajña/karma devoid of Śiva-bhakti and right intention becomes sterile and collapses; points toward Śiva as the inner yajña (antaryāga).

FAQs

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

It portrays the fragility of outward pomp—when ego and bondage (pāśa) dominate, even grand rites collapse; the verse pushes the seeker toward inner surrender to Pati (Shiva) rather than reliance on spectacle.

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

The broken yajña-scene contrasts unstable external arrangements with the steadiness of Saguna Shiva worship through the Linga, where devotion and right understanding—not display—become the true support.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt simplified Shaiva practice—Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and inward contemplation—so worship remains firm even when outer circumstances fall apart.