Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवः पिनाकी परमेश्वरः । शक्रस्य रूपमास्थाय गन्तुं चक्रे मतिं ततः

Transliteration

etasminnaṃtare devaḥ pinākī parameśvaraḥ | śakrasya rūpamāsthāya gantuṃ cakre matiṃ tataḥ

Translation

Cependant, le Souverain suprême—Pinākin, porteur de l’arc Pināka—prit la forme de Śakra (Indra). Puis, sous cet aspect, il résolut de partir.

Word by Word

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: अधिकरण (adhikaraṇa; locus/time-frame)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (neut. loc. sg.)

• अन्तरे: in the meantime/interval
• अन्तरे: अधिकरण (adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (neut. loc. sg.); ‘in the interval’

• देवः: the god
• देवः: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)

• पिनाकी: Pināka-bearer
• पिनाकी: कर्ता (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिनाकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण-रूपेण उपाधि (masc. nom. sg.; epithet ‘bearer of Pināka’)

• परमेश्वरः: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरः: कर्ता (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेश्वर = परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)

• शक्रस्य: of Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (masc. gen. sg.)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: कर्म (object of assuming)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.)

• आस्थाय: having assumed
• आस्थाय: पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having assumed/taken’

• गन्तुम्: to go
• गन्तुम्: प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य (purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive); ‘to go’

• चक्रे: made
• चक्रे: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (liṭ, 3rd pers. sg.; ātmanepada)

• मतिम्: intention/decision
• मतिम्: कर्म (object: intention)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (fem. acc. sg.)

• ततः: thereupon
• ततः: हेतु/अनन्तर-क्रम (sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/तदनन्तरम् (ablatival adverb: from there/thereupon)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra

FAQs

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

It highlights Parameśvara as the independent Pati who can assume any form through divine māyā, not from limitation but as compassionate strategy to guide and protect beings bound as paśu by pāśa.

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

Shiva’s taking a visible guise reinforces Saguna worship: the same transcendent Lord graciously accepts forms for devotees’ benefit, while the Liṅga remains the stable symbol of his supremacy beyond changing appearances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate śaraṇāgati (surrender) while chanting the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” remembering that Shiva can work through any circumstance or ‘form’ to lead the seeker toward liberation.