Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 41

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

वेणुवीणाविदग्धैश्च पुरुषैर्बहुभिर्युतम् । रक्षितं रक्षिभिर्वीरैर्गजवाजिरथान्वितैः

Transliteration

veṇuvīṇāvidagdhaiśca puruṣairbahubhiryutam | rakṣitaṃ rakṣibhirvīrairgajavājirathānvitaiḥ

Translation

Il était entouré de nombreux hommes experts en flûte de bambou et en vīṇā ; et il était gardé par de vaillants protecteurs, des guerriers pourvus d’éléphants, de chevaux et de chars.

Word by Word

• वेणु-वीणा-विदग्धैः: with men skilled in flute and lute
• वेणु-वीणा-विदग्धैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेणु (प्रातिपदिक) + वीणा (प्रातिपदिक) + विदग्ध (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—वेणौ वीणायां च विदग्धाः

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुरुषैः: by/with men
• पुरुषैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• बहुभिः: many
• बहुभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पुरुषैः)

• युतम्: joined/filled/attended
• युतम्: विशेष्य-विशेषण (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP), ‘युक्तम्/समन्वितम्’

• रक्षितम्: protected/guarded
• रक्षितम्: विशेष्य-विशेषण (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्षित (कृदन्त; √रक्ष् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP)

• रक्षिभिः: by guards
• रक्षिभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• वीरैः: brave
• वीरैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying रक्षिभिः)

• गज-वाजि-रथ-अन्वितैः: accompanied by elephants, horses, and chariots
• गज-वाजि-रथ-अन्वितैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + वाजिन्/वाजि (प्रातिपदिक) + रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त; √इ/अनु-√इ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—गजाश्च वाजिनश्च रथाश्च (द्वन्द्व) तैः अन्विताः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; the pairing of music (veṇu, vīṇā) and protection (rakṣā) frames the sacred space as both celebratory and guarded—like a major kṣetra during festival processions.

Significance: Implies kṣetra-maryādā (sacred order): devotional arts flourish within a protected dharmic space, supporting steady contemplation and communal worship.

FAQs

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

The verse highlights worldly splendor—music, attendants, and military protection—serving as a narrative contrast often used in Shaiva teaching: external power and enjoyment are transient, while true refuge is Pati (Shiva), the inner Lord beyond all guards and possessions.

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

Though it describes a guarded, royal environment, Shaiva Siddhanta frames such scenes as the outer world (pāśa) surrounding the bound soul (paśu); Linga-worship redirects attention from external security to Shiva as the real Protector, making devotion (bhakti) the central safeguard.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

No direct ritual is stated, but the takeaway is to seek inner protection through Shiva-upāsanā—mentally repeating the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and cultivating steady remembrance of Shiva rather than relying solely on external defenses.