Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25

मन्दरगिरिवर्णनम् — Description of Mount Mandara as Śiva’s Residence

Tapas-abode

Devanagari script

ताभ्यां तपो बलाद्दत्तं ब्रह्मणा परमेष्टिना । अवध्यत्वं जगत्यस्मिन्पुरुषैरखिलैरपि

Transliteration

tābhyāṃ tapo balāddattaṃ brahmaṇā parameṣṭinā | avadhyatvaṃ jagatyasminpuruṣairakhilairapi

Translation

À ces deux-là, le suprême Brahmā (Parameṣṭhin), touché par la puissance de leurs austérités, accorda le don de l’invincibilité en ce monde, même contre tous les hommes.

Word by Word

• ताभ्याम्: to those two (for them)
• ताभ्याम्: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसके, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), द्विवचन (instrumental dual)

• तपः: austerity, penance (boon)
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (here: object sense)

• बलात्: by (the force of) power
• बलात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन (ablative singular), हेतौ (cause)

• दत्तम्: was given
• दत्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (दा धातु) → datta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे क्रियापदवत् (given)

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• परमेष्टिना: by the Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin)
• परमेष्टिना: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameṣṭin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; ब्रह्मणः विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• अवध्यत्वम्: invincibility (state of being unkillable)
• अवध्यत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-vadhya-tva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (अवध्य = न वध्यः) + त्व (भाववाचक); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जगति: in the world
• जगति: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (locative singular)

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुं, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; जगति इति विशेषणम्

• पुरुषैः: by men/persons
• पुरुषैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• अखिलैः: by all
• अखिलैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; पुरुषैः इति विशेषणम्

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण/समुच्चयार्थक निपात (particle: even/also)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Illustrates the peril of tapas divorced from right orientation: boons can intensify bondage (pāśa) when sought for domination; motivates seeking Śiva’s anugraha rather than mere siddhi.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights that intense tapas can yield powerful worldly boons (like invincibility), yet Shaiva teaching ultimately distinguishes such temporary powers from liberation (moksha) bestowed by Pati (Shiva).

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

Brahmā’s boon shows the reach of ritual merit and austerity, but the Shiva Purana repeatedly implies that true refuge lies in devotion to Saguna Shiva (often through Linga worship), which transcends conditional protections like ‘invincibility against men’.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse emphasizes tapas (disciplined austerity and focused practice); a Shaiva takeaway is to pair such discipline with Shiva-upasana—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady meditation—so effort aims at moksha, not merely boons.