Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15

विभूतिविस्तरप्रश्नः / Inquiry into the Expansion of Śiva’s Vibhūti

Devanagari script

तच्छिष्यभूतैर्मुनिभिश्शास्त्रैर्वेदमिवावृतम् । शिवध्यानरतं शांतमुपमन्युं महाद्युतिम्

Transliteration

tacchiṣyabhūtairmunibhiśśāstrairvedamivāvṛtam | śivadhyānarataṃ śāṃtamupamanyuṃ mahādyutim

Translation

Entouré des munis qui étaient ses disciples—comme le Veda enveloppé par les śāstras sacrés—siégeait Upamanyu, d’un éclat majestueux : paisible, tranquille, entièrement absorbé dans la méditation de Śiva.

Word by Word

• तत्-शिष्य-भूतैः: by those who had become his disciples
• तत्-शिष्य-भूतैः: करण (Karana/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् + शिष्य + भूत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; तत्स्य शिष्याः भूता इति (who had become his disciples)

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: करण (Karana/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• शास्त्रैः: with scriptures
• शास्त्रैः: करण (Karana/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण (instrumental)

• वेदम्: the Veda
• वेदम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; उपमान (object of comparison)

• इव: like
• इव: सम्बन्ध/उपमा
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय (comparative particle)

• आवृतम्: covered, surrounded
• आवृतम्: विशेषण
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘(तम्)’ इत्यस्य विशेषण—covered/surrounded

• शिव-ध्यान-रतम्: absorbed in meditation on Śiva
• शिव-ध्यान-रतम्: विशेषण (of उपमन्युं)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + ध्यान + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; शिवस्य ध्याने रतः (engaged in meditation on Śiva)

• शान्तम्: peaceful
• शान्तम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• उपमन्युम्: Upamanyu
• उपमन्युम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपमन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मपद (seen person)

• महाद्युतिम्: of great radiance
• महाद्युतिम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाद्युति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; महती द्युतिः यस्य (of great splendor) कर्मधारय/बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषणरूपेण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: No Jyotirliṅga; the verse sacralizes the guru-maṇḍala: disciples encircle the Śiva-dhyāna-parāyaṇa sage as śāstras encircle the Veda—authority flows from realized meditation on Śiva.

Significance: Affirms darśana of a Śiva-dhyāna-yukta guru as itself a tīrtha; proximity to such a sage is portrayed as spiritually luminous and transformative.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Upamanyu

FAQs

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

It presents the ideal Shaiva exemplar: a realized teacher whose serenity and radiance arise from one-pointed Shiva-dhyana, showing that proximity to Pati (Shiva) is cultivated through disciplined contemplation and discipleship.

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

Although the verse highlights inner meditation, it aligns with Saguna Shiva worship by treating Shiva as a personal, contemplable Lord; in practice, such dhyana is often supported by Linga-upasana as the stable focus for devotion and concentration.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Shiva-dhyana: sit in calmness, steady the mind on Lord Shiva (often with japa of the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and maintain śānti (tranquility) as the core discipline.