Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 99

द्वितीयतृतीयावरणपूजाक्रमः | The Sequence of the Second and Third Enclosure Worship (Āvaraṇa-pūjā)

Devanagari script

बहुना किं प्रलापेन महाव्यापन्निवारकम् । आत्मीयमस्त्रं शैवानामिदमाह महेश्वरः

Transliteration

bahunā kiṃ pralāpena mahāvyāpannivārakam | ātmīyamastraṃ śaivānāmidamāha maheśvaraḥ

Translation

À quoi bon tant de paroles? Cet enseignement est le grand remède qui écarte les calamités terribles. Maheshvara l’a proclamé: «Ceci est mon arme spirituelle, propre aux śaivas».

Word by Word

• बहुना: with much (talk)
• बहुना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; instrumental singular used idiomatically ‘with much (talk)’

• किम्: what (use)?
• किम्: प्रश्न (Interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; interrogative ‘what?’ (here: ‘what use?’)

• प्रलापेन: by prattle/talk
• प्रलापेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; instrumental singular

• महा-व्यापन-निवारकम्: remover of great calamity/distress
• महा-व्यापन-निवारकम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यापन (प्रातिपदिक) + निवारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular agreeing with ‘अस्त्रम्’; समासः—तत्पुरुष (निवारकः कस्य? व्यापनस्य; महद्-व्यापनम्)

• आत्मीयम्: one’s own/proper
• आत्मीयम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular agreeing with ‘अस्त्रम्’

• अस्त्रम्: weapon (spiritual means)
• अस्त्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular

• शैवानाम्: of the Śaivas (devotees of Śiva)
• शैवानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; genitive plural

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular

• आह: said
• आह: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/आह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘said/spoke’

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Maheshvara)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Interprets the teaching as Śiva’s ‘astra’—a protective grace that averts calamity; supports the temple idea of rakṣā (divine safeguarding) sought by pilgrims.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: protective

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Shiva’s grace and the Shaiva path are not mere discussion but a direct, effective spiritual means that removes great distress—pointing to Pati (Shiva) as the ultimate refuge who cuts the bonds of suffering.

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

Calling it Shiva’s “own weapon” implies a concrete, practiced devotion to Saguna Shiva—typically expressed through Linga worship, mantra-japa, and disciplined Shaiva observances that make Shiva’s protection tangible in the devotee’s life.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady Shiva-upasana rather than debate—especially mantra-japa (such as the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) along with regular Linga worship and Shaiva disciplines like bhasma and rudraksha where taught in context.