Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । तत्र पूर्वं महाभागा नैमिषारण्यवासिनः । प्रणिपत्य यथान्यायं पप्रच्छुः पवनं प्रभुम्

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | tatra pūrvaṃ mahābhāgā naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ | praṇipatya yathānyāyaṃ papracchuḥ pavanaṃ prabhum

Translation

Sūta dit : Alors, les sages très fortunés qui demeuraient à Naimiṣāraṇya se prosternèrent d’abord selon le rite prescrit, puis interrogèrent le Seigneur Pavana (Vāyu), le Souverain.

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta (the narrator)
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: “there”)

• पूर्वम्: formerly, at first
• पूर्वम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative: “formerly/at first”)

• महाभागाः: the fortunate ones, great devotees
• महाभागाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक: महा + भाग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• नैमिषारण्यवासिनः: dwellers of Naimiṣāraṇya
• नैमिषारण्यवासिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैमिषारण्यवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक: नैमिषारण्य + वासिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रणिपत्य: having prostrated
• प्रणिपत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive in -त्वा): “having bowed down”

• यथा: according to
• यथा: Prakara (प्रकार/Mode)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (manner: “as/according to”)

• अन्यायम्: proper rule, propriety
• अन्यायम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); अव्ययीभावार्थे (used adverbially: “properly”)

• पप्रच्छुः: asked
• पप्रच्छुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• पवनम्: Vāyu (the Wind-god)
• पवनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रभुम्: the lord
• प्रभुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); पवनस्य विशेषणरूपेण (appositional)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Naimiṣāraṇya as the ‘nimisha’ sacred forest where sages assemble for prolonged sattra and śāstra-śravaṇa; the setting functions as a tīrtha of inquiry and transmission rather than a specific jyotirliṅga site in this passage.

Significance: Model of proper approach to teaching: praṇipāta (prostration) + praśna (inquiry), leading to anugraha through right reception of Śiva-kathā.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Sages of Naimisharanya
• Vayu (Pavana)

FAQs

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

It establishes the Shaiva method of receiving liberating knowledge: humility and surrender first (praṇipāta), then disciplined inquiry. In Shaiva Siddhanta, such right approach prepares the pashu (bound soul) to receive insight about Pati (Shiva) and the bonds (pāśa).

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

Although the verse is about inquiry, it reflects the foundational bhakti posture used in Saguna Shiva worship—bowing with reverence before approaching Shiva’s teachings. This same attitude underlies Linga-upāsanā: devotion, purity of intent, and proper ritual decorum before seeking grace and understanding.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The direct practice implied is praṇāma/prostration with yathā-nyāya (according to rule): begin any Shiva worship, japa (including Om Namaḥ Śivāya), or study with respectful salutations to the guru, the tradition, and Lord Shiva—cultivating humility before inquiry.