Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30

मन्दरगिरिवर्णनम् — Description of Mount Mandara as Śiva’s Residence

Tapas-abode

Devanagari script

तद्वर्णकोशजां शक्तिमकामां कन्यकात्मिकाम् । निशुम्भशुंभयोर्हंत्रीं सुरेभ्यो दातुमर्हसि

Transliteration

tadvarṇakośajāṃ śaktimakāmāṃ kanyakātmikām | niśumbhaśuṃbhayorhaṃtrīṃ surebhyo dātumarhasi

Translation

C’est pourquoi tu dois accorder aux dieux cette puissance née de cette essence lumineuse : la Śakti, sans désir, sous la forme d’une jeune fille, qui deviendra la meurtrière de Niśumbha et de Śumbha.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासे पूर्वपद-निर्देशक (that)

• वर्णकोशजाम्: born from the sheath of color/letters
• वर्णकोशजाम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of शक्तिम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ण-कोश-ज (प्रातिपदिक; वर्ण + कोश + ज)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—(वर्णकोशात् जाता) सप्तमी/पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुषार्थः

• शक्तिम्: power/energy (Śakti)
• शक्तिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अकामाम्: desireless
• अकामाम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of शक्तिम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष/निषेध (not desirous)

• कन्यकात्मिकाम्: having the form of a maiden
• कन्यकात्मिकाम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of शक्तिम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कन्यका-आत्मिक (प्रातिपदिक; कन्यका + आत्मिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कन्यका-स्वरूपा)

• निशुम्भशुम्भयोः: of Niśumbha and Śumbha
• निशुम्भशुम्भयोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशुम्भ-शुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (निशुम्भश्च शुम्भश्च)

• हन्त्रीम्: slayer (female)
• हन्त्रीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; apposition to शक्तिम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हन्त्री (प्रातिपदिक; √हन्-कर्तृवाचक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सुरेभ्यः: to the gods
• सुरेभ्यः: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी (4th/5th Dative/Ablative), बहुवचन; अत्र चतुर्थी (to the gods)

• दातुम्: to give
• दातुम्: प्रयोजन-क्रिया (Infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Infinitive), ‘to give’

• अर्हसि: you ought/are fit
• अर्हसि: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā account to the sages, conveying the divine counsel within the story)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Caṇḍikā

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shakti
• Niśumbha
• Śumbha
• Devas (Suras)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śakti as the pure, desireless power (akāmā) that manifests for dharma—showing that divine action can arise from freedom from egoic craving, aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta where Śiva (Pati) works through His Śakti to remove bondage and restore cosmic order.

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

In Saguna worship, the Liṅga signifies Śiva as the supreme Lord, while Śakti is His manifest potency. This verse underscores that protection and destruction of evil occur through Śiva’s power—encouraging devotees to honor the inseparable Śiva-Śakti reality represented in Liṅga worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to worship Śiva with the attitude of akāmā-bhakti (desireless devotion), repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while contemplating Śiva-Śakti as the inner शक्ति that destroys inner ‘asuras’ like pride and violence.