Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

सत्रप्रवृत्तिः — वायोः आगमनं च

Commencement of the Satra and the Arrival of Vāyu

Devanagari script

शृणु चेदं पुरावृत्तं तमसाक्रांतमानसैः । उपासितः पुरास्माभिर्विज्ञानार्थं प्रजापतिः

Transliteration

śṛṇu cedaṃ purāvṛttaṃ tamasākrāṃtamānasaiḥ | upāsitaḥ purāsmābhirvijñānārthaṃ prajāpatiḥ

Translation

Écoute ce récit ancien. Lorsque nos esprits étaient envahis par les ténèbres (l’ignorance), jadis nous avons adoré Prajāpati (Brahmā) afin d’obtenir la vraie connaissance spirituelle.

Word by Word

• śṛṇu: hear
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• purā-vṛttam: an event of old
• purā-vṛttam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purā (अव्यय) + vṛtta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ‘पुरा वृत्तम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tamasā-krānta-mānasaiḥ: by us whose minds were overpowered by darkness
• tamasā-krānta-mānasaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक) + ākrānta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (instrumental determinative) ‘तमसा आक्रान्तं मानसं येषाम्’; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• upāsitaḥ: was worshipped
• upāsitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa + ās (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे मुख्यक्रियासदृश

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• asmābhiḥ: by us
• asmābhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• vijñāna-artham: for knowledge/realization
• vijñāna-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vijñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण प्रयोजनार्थे अव्ययीभाववत् (accusative of purpose): ‘विज्ञानाय’

• prajāpatiḥ: Prajāpati
• prajāpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajāpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Prajapati (Brahma)

FAQs

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

It frames the journey from tamas (bondage through ignorance) toward vijñāna (liberating insight). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it shows the bound soul (paśu) seeking clarity to move toward the Lord (Pati) and freedom from bonds (pāśa).

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

Though it names Prajāpati, the intent is knowledge-oriented worship that ultimately culminates in recognizing Shiva as the supreme source of grace and liberation. In the Shiva Purana’s arc, preliminary worship and inquiry mature into Shaiva devotion—often centered on Saguna Shiva and Linga-upāsanā as accessible supports for realizing higher truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse highlights upāsanā for the sake of vijñāna—regular worship combined with inquiry and contemplation. Practically, this aligns with daily Shiva-upāsanā (e.g., japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and meditative reflection to dispel tamas), even if specific items like bhasma or rudrākṣa are not explicitly mentioned here.