Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 43

सत्याः पुनस्तपश्चर्या — Satī’s Return to Austerity (Tapas) and Fearless Liṅga-Worship

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मणापि प्रहृष्टेन तस्यै परमशक्तये । प्रबलः केसरी दत्तो वाहनत्वे समागतः

Transliteration

brahmaṇāpi prahṛṣṭena tasyai paramaśaktaye | prabalaḥ kesarī datto vāhanatve samāgataḥ

Translation

Même Brahmā, transporté de joie, offrit à cette Śakti suprême un lion puissant, venu servir de monture (vāhana) à la Déesse.

Word by Word

• brahmaṇā: by Brahmā
• brahmaṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle), 'also/even'

• prahṛṣṭena: being delighted
• prahṛṣṭena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-hṛṣ (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya PPP, Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'brahmaṇā'

• tasyai: to her
• tasyai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (Pronoun), Strīliṅga, Caturthī vibhakti (Dative/4th), Ekavacana

• parama-śaktaye: to the supreme Power (Goddess)
• parama-śaktaye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paramaśakti = parama + śakti (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Caturthī vibhakti (Dative/4th), Ekavacana

• prabalaḥ: strong
• prabalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prabala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'kesarī'

• kesarī: lion
• kesarī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kesarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• dattaḥ: was given
• dattaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dā (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya PPP used predicatively; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; agrees with 'kesarī'

• vāhana-tve: as a vehicle (mount)
• vāhana-tve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāhanatva = vāhana + tva (प्रातिपदिक; समास/तद्धित)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/7th), Ekavacana

• samāgataḥ: came / was appointed
• samāgataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-gam (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya PPP, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; predicate of 'kesarī' (having come/appointed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shakti
• Lion (Kesari)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Paramaśakti as the divine power through whom auspiciousness and protection manifest; even Brahmā honors her sovereignty by offering a fitting emblem of strength—signifying that cosmic functions operate under the Lord’s Śakti.

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

In Śaiva worship, the Liṅga signifies Shiva as Pati (the Supreme), while Śakti is his inseparable power; this verse supports Saguna devotion by presenting the Goddess in a concrete, worshipful form with her vahana, reinforcing Shiva–Shakti unity in ritual and contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as Pati together with Paramaśakti as his dynamic power, offering worship with the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while cultivating fearlessness and steadiness symbolized by the lion.