Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 6

भद्रस्य देवसंघेषु विक्रमः

Bhadra’s Onslaught among the Deva Hosts

Devanagari script

महासरोवरं यद्वन्मत्तो वारणयूथपः । विकुर्वन्बहुधावर्णान्नीलपांडुरलोहितान्

Transliteration

mahāsarovaraṃ yadvanmatto vāraṇayūthapaḥ | vikurvanbahudhāvarṇānnīlapāṃḍuralohitān

Translation

De même qu’un chef de troupeau d’éléphants, ivre, s’ébat dans un vaste lac et y soulève maintes teintes—bleu, blanc pâle et rouge—, ainsi cette puissance, une en son essence, se manifeste sous des aspects variés.

Word by Word

• महासरोवरम्: the great lake
• महासरोवरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + सरोवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (महच्च तत् सरोवरम्)

• यद्वत्: just as
• यद्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक-निपात (like/as)

• मत्तः: maddened
• मत्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (उन्मत्तः)

• वारणयूथपः: leader of a herd of elephants
• वारणयूथपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारण (प्रातिपदिक) + यूथप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वारणानां यूथपः)

• विकुर्वन्: producing/creating (variously)
• विकुर्वन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + कृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा, पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी; अर्थः—‘करोति/विकरोति’

• बहुधा: in many ways
• बहुधा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (in many ways)

• वर्णान्: colors
• वर्णान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• नीलपाण्डुरलोहितान्: blue, pale, and red
• नीलपाण्डुरलोहितान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + पाण्डुर (प्रातिपदिक) + लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (नीलाश्च पाण्डुराश्च लोहिताश्च)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It uses a vivid simile to show that multiplicity of appearances can arise from a single underlying reality—supporting the Shaiva view that the Supreme Lord (Pati) remains unchanged while expressions and experiences vary.

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

Like the many colors stirred in one lake, Saguna forms and symbols (including the Linga) are diverse gateways for devotion, while pointing to the one, steady Shiva beyond changing phenomena.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the one consciousness behind all changing states; japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” supports steadiness of awareness while forms and moods arise and pass.