Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

अलंकृतशिरोभागमस्त्र २ आजेन चिह्नितम् । राजन्यार्हनिवासैश्च राजवीथ्यादिशोभितैः

Transliteration

alaṃkṛtaśirobhāgamastra 2 ājena cihnitam | rājanyārhanivāsaiśca rājavīthyādiśobhitaiḥ

Translation

Sa partie supérieure était magnifiquement ornée ; et elle portait deux armes, marquées de l’emblème du bouc. Elle était encore embellie de demeures dignes des nobles, ainsi que de rues royales et d’autres avenues splendides.

Word by Word

• अलंकृत: adorned
• अलंकृत: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलंकृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (past passive participle, neuter, nominative/accusative, singular)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Upapada (उपपद; compound-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (stem; used in compound)

• भागम्: the portion/part (of the head)
• भागम्: Karma (कर्म; object described)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिरसः भागः) (masculine, accusative, singular; genitive tatpuruṣa)

• अस्त्र: weapon (textual element)
• अस्त्र: Sambandha/Upapada (सम्बन्ध/उपपद; unclear in transmitted text)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative, singular)

• २: (numeral marker)
• २: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: २ (संख्या)
• Form: अव्यय; संख्या-चिह्न (indeclinable numeral marker)

• आजेन: with a goat (emblem)
• आजेन: Karaṇa (करण; by/with a goat-mark)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (masculine, instrumental, singular)

• चिह्नितम्: marked
• चिह्नितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिह्नि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (past passive participle, neuter, nominative/accusative, singular)

• राजन्य: royal/kṣatriya
• राजन्य: Upapada (उपपद; compound-member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (stem; used in compound)

• अर्ह: worthy/fit for
• अर्ह: Upapada (उपपद; compound-member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (stem; used in compound)

• निवासैः: with residences fit for royals
• निवासैः: Karaṇa (करण; by/with residences)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (राजन्य-अर्ह-निवास = dwellings fit for royals) (masculine, instrumental, plural)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• राज: king/royal
• राज: Upapada (उपपद; compound-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (stem; used in compound)

• वीथि: street/avenue
• वीथि: Upapada (उपपद; compound-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (stem; used in compound)

• आदि: etc., and the like
• आदि: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘आदि’ = etc.; अव्ययीभाव-समासः (राजवीथि-आदि = beginning with royal streets)

• शोभितैः: adorned/beautified (by)
• शोभितैः: Karaṇa (करण; by/with which it is adorned)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (past passive participle, masculine, instrumental, plural)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: The orderly city-like temple complex (royal streets, noble residences) depicts Śiva’s kṣetra as a regulated sacred polity where the paśu is gradually disciplined—supporting sthiti (stability) and dharmic life around Paśupati.

FAQs

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

The verse portrays an ordered, auspicious sacred space—outer beauty reflecting inner dharma—suggesting that a sanctified environment supports devotion (bhakti) and disciplined living oriented toward Shiva, the Pati (Lord) who liberates the bound soul (paśu) from bondage (pāśa).

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

Descriptions of divine abodes and auspicious markings frame the setting in which Saguna Shiva is approached through visible symbols, consecrated spaces, and orderly pathways—preparing the mind for reverent Linga-worship that leads toward the realization of Shiva’s supreme nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to cultivate śauca (purity) and saṃskāra (sanctification): keep the worship-space clean and beautified, perform regular pūjā with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and maintain a disciplined, devotional routine.