Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25

पूजास्थानशुद्धिः पात्रशोधनं च — Purification of the Worship-Space and Preparation of Ritual Vessels

Devanagari script

आग्नेयादिश्वेतरक्तपीतश्यामानि वर्णतः । अधर्मादीनि पूर्वादीन्युत्तरांतान्यनुक्रमात्

Transliteration

āgneyādiśvetaraktapītaśyāmāni varṇataḥ | adharmādīni pūrvādīnyuttarāṃtānyanukramāt

Translation

En commençant par la direction du sud-est, leurs couleurs sont, dans l’ordre, blanc, rouge, jaune et noir. De même, en partant d’Adharma à l’est et en suivant la suite jusqu’à l’extrémité du nord, il faut les comprendre successivement.

Word by Word

• आग्नेय-आदि-श्वेत-रक्त-पीत-श्यामानि: (being) agneya etc.: white, red, yellow, black
• आग्नेय-आदि-श्वेत-रक्त-पीत-श्यामानि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आग्नेय (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + पीत (प्रातिपदिक) + श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective dvandva) indicating multiple colors/directions as a set

• वर्णतः: by color/according to color
• वर्णतः: हेतु/प्रकार (Manner/according to)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वर्णतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

• अधर्म-आदीनि: adharma and the rest
• अधर्म-आदीनि: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic; items in sequence)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; आदि-तत्पुरुष (X and the rest beginning with X)

• पूर्व-आदीनि: beginning with the east (etc.)
• पूर्व-आदीनि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; आदि-तत्पुरुष

• उत्तर-अन्तानि: ending with the north
• उत्तर-अन्तानि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'उत्तरः अन्तः यस्य' / 'ending with the north' (sequence terminus)

• अनुक्रमात्: in due order/according to sequence
• अनुक्रमात्: अव्ययार्थ-हेतु/प्रकार (According to sequence)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे 'in order/ क्रमशः' sense

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents a structured mapping of directions, colors, and moral principles (beginning with Adharma), indicating that bondage and virtue operate in an ordered cosmic framework that the seeker must discern to move toward Shiva, the supreme Pati.

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

Directional and color correspondences are commonly used to steady the mind in saguna upasana; by aligning perception with scriptural order, devotion becomes disciplined and can culminate in Linga-centered contemplation of Shiva as the transcendent Lord beyond all attributes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use directional awareness in meditation or puja—placing attention sequentially by quarters while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), letting the mind move from disorder (Adharma) toward Shiva-centered inner clarity.