Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 35

भद्रस्य देवसंघेषु विक्रमः

Bhadra’s Onslaught among the Deva Hosts

Devanagari script

आकर्णपूर्णमाकृष्टं धनुरम्बुदसंनिभम् । नादयामास च ज्यां द्यां खं च भूमिं च सर्वशः

Transliteration

ākarṇapūrṇamākṛṣṭaṃ dhanurambudasaṃnibham | nādayāmāsa ca jyāṃ dyāṃ khaṃ ca bhūmiṃ ca sarvaśaḥ

Translation

Il tira l’arc, sombre comme un nuage, jusqu’à la hauteur de son oreille; puis fit vibrer la corde, et le fracas résonna partout—dans le ciel, dans l’espace et sur la terre, en tous sens.

Word by Word

• आकर्ण-पूर्णम्: drawn up to the ear (fully drawn)
• आकर्ण-पूर्णम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to धनुः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकर्ण + पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आकर्णं यावत् पूर्णम् = filled up to the ear)

• आकृष्टम्: pulled, drawn
• आकृष्टम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to धनुः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + √कृष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (Singular); धनुः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• धनुः: the bow
• धनुः: कर्म (Karma/Object; of नादयामास)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्/धनुः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• अम्बुद-संनिभम्: resembling a cloud
• अम्बुद-संनिभम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to धनुः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अम्बुद + संनिभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Singular; agrees with धनुः); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अम्बुदेन संनिभम्)

• नादयामास: made resound
• नादयामास: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative stem: 'made resound')

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• ज्याम्: the bowstring
• ज्याम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; of नादयामास)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• द्याम्: the sky (heaven)
• द्याम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; of नादयामास)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• खम्: the space, the firmament
• खम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; of नादयामास)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• भूमिम्: the earth
• भूमिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; of नादयामास)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• सर्वशः: everywhere, in all directions
• सर्वशः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/व्याप्तिवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'everywhere/in every way')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: dik-vyāpti motif: sound pervading dyu-kha-bhū (heaven-space-earth)

FAQs

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

The bow drawn to the ear and the world-filling twang symbolize concentrated will (icchā-śakti) and irresistible divine power. In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, it hints that Pati (the Lord) alone can set the cosmos trembling—his command and vibration overrule pasha (bondage) and disorder.

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

Though the verse is martial imagery, it points to Saguna Shiva’s manifest sovereignty: the Lord acts within the worlds and makes his presence known by a power that pervades dyu, kha, and bhūmi. Linga-worship similarly honors Shiva as the all-pervading Pati who is present in every realm while remaining transcendent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the ‘cosmic vibration’ as Shiva’s presence—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya) while visualizing the mantra’s resonance filling the three realms. As a simple practice, accompany japa with Tripundra (bhasma) and a steady breath to internalize the Lord’s all-pervading sound.