Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

Mantra Efficacy, Removal of Obstacles, and the Role of Faith/Discipline

Devanagari script

अथ वाष्टभुजा चिंत्या चिंतकस्य यथारुचि । तदा त्रिशूलपरशुखड्गवज्राणि दक्षिणे

Transliteration

atha vāṣṭabhujā ciṃtyā ciṃtakasya yathāruci | tadā triśūlaparaśukhaḍgavajrāṇi dakṣiṇe

Translation

Puis, selon l’intention et la joie du méditant, on doit la contempler comme ayant huit bras ; et du côté droit elle porte le trident, la hache, l’épée et le foudre (vajra).

Word by Word

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भबोधक (particle: ‘then/now’)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पबोधक (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• अष्ट-भुजा: eight-armed
• अष्ट-भुजा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• चिन्त्या: to be meditated upon
• चिन्त्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √चिन्त् (धातु) → चिन्त्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: ‘to be contemplated’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• चिन्तकस्य: of the meditator
• चिन्तकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• यथा-रुचि: according to (one’s) liking
• यथा-रुचि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + रुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• तदा: then/at that time
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् (temporal adverb)

• त्रिशूल-परशु-खड्ग-वज्राणि: trident, axe, sword, and thunderbolt (weapons)
• त्रिशूल-परशु-खड्ग-वज्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशूल (प्रातिपदिक) + परशु (प्रातिपदिक) + खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective)

• दक्षिणे: on the right (side)
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Meditating on the weapon-bearing Śakti form is framed as inner conquest of pāśa (bondage) through divine power—cutting ignorance and fear, stabilizing the sādhaka for Śiva-jñāna.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Caṇḍikā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Devi (Shakti)

FAQs

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

It teaches saguna-dhyāna: the seeker may contemplate the Divine Power (Śakti) in a concrete, iconographic form suited to their mind, using sacred weapons as symbols of protection, discernment, and the removal of bondage (pāśa).

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

In Śaiva Siddhānta, the Linga signifies Pati (Shiva) while Śakti is His inseparable power; meditating on Śakti’s form supports saguna worship that steadies the mind, leading toward Shiva-realization and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A dhyāna practice: visualize the Devi as aṣṭabhujā, placing the trident, axe, sword, and vajra on the right hands/side; accompany it with japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) or a Śakti-mantra as per one’s tradition.