Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 50

मन्दरगिरिवर्णनम् — Description of Mount Mandara as Śiva’s Residence

Tapas-abode

Devanagari script

भूयसी च तवाप्रीतिरगौरमिति मे वपुः । क्रीडोक्तिरपि कालीति घटते कथमन्यथा

Transliteration

bhūyasī ca tavāprītiragauramiti me vapuḥ | krīḍoktirapi kālīti ghaṭate kathamanyathā

Translation

Grande est ton déplaisir envers moi, pensant : «Mon corps n’est pas beau comme celui de Gaurī.» Même la parole dite en jeu, me nommant «Kālī», en vient à convenir ; comment pourrait-il en être autrement ?

Word by Word

• भूयसी: greater; more
• भूयसी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तुलनात्मक-विशेषण (comparative)

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

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive), एकवचन; मध्यम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम

• अप्रीतिः: displeasure; lack of affection
• अप्रीतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अगौरम्: not fair; not white
• अगौरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अगौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वपुः)

• इति: thus; saying
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम (here: genitive ‘my’)

• वपुः: body; form
• वपुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्रीडोक्तिः: a playful remark
• क्रीडोक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रीडा + उक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्रीडायाः उक्तिः)

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), ‘also/even’

• काली: Kālī; the dark one
• काली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम/विशेषण-रूपेण

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• घटते: fits; is appropriate
• घटते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घट् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘otherwise’

Speaker

Parvati (addressing Lord Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva
• Kali
• Gauri

FAQs

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

The verse highlights inner transformation: the Divine Mother recognizes that attachment to outward appearance and hurt pride deepen suffering, while devotion matures by seeing the same Śakti as Gaurī or Kālī—one reality expressed in different forms.

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

It supports Saguna worship by showing how names and forms (Kālī/Gaurī) arise in divine play, yet point back to one supreme reality; in Linga worship, the devotee learns to transcend outer distinctions and adore Śiva-Śakti as inseparable.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa with the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while contemplating equanimity toward praise and blame, and offering devotion to Śiva-Śakti beyond external attributes; simple abhisheka and mental surrender are especially suited for Mahāśivarātri.