Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 81

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

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

Devanagari script

महावातायते शक्तिर्बलं मत्तगजायते । स्तम्भायते समुद्योगैः शत्रुपक्षे स्थिता क्रिया

Transliteration

mahāvātāyate śaktirbalaṃ mattagajāyate | stambhāyate samudyogaiḥ śatrupakṣe sthitā kriyā

Translation

Quand l’énergie devient un grand ouragan et la force un éléphant ivre, l’action—dès qu’elle se tient du côté de l’ennemi—se trouve arrêtée et figée par le surmenage et l’ardeur fébrile.

Word by Word

• महावातायते: becomes like a great wind
• महावातायते: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: महावात (प्रातिपदिक) + √अय् (धातु, अय-प्रत्ययान्त denominative)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), आत्मनेपद; नामधातु (denominative) — ‘महावात इव भवति’

• शक्तिः: power
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• बलम्: strength
• बलम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• मत्तगजायते: becomes like an intoxicated elephant
• मत्तगजायते: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मत्तगज (प्रातिपदिक) + √अय् (धातु, अय-प्रत्ययान्त denominative)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; नामधातु — ‘मत्तगज इव भवति’

• स्तम्भायते: becomes a pillar / becomes rigid
• स्तम्भायते: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + √अय् (धातु, अय-प्रत्ययान्त denominative)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; नामधातु — ‘स्तम्भ इव भवति/स्तम्भनं करोति’

• समुद्योगैः: by (their) exertions/efforts
• समुद्योगैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (pl.)

• शत्रुपक्षे: in the enemy camp/side
• शत्रुपक्षे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रुपक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): शत्रूणां पक्षः

• स्थितā: situated/standing
• स्थितā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषणम्

• क्रिया: activity/action
• क्रिया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: protective

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Psychic ‘storm’ of rajas leading to stambha (paralysis) when kriyā aligns with adharma

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns that raw power and frantic striving, when driven by ego or aligned with hostile tendencies, can paralyze one’s own capacity to act. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, such kriyā becomes a form of pāśa (bondage) unless purified by devotion and right discernment under Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga-worship centers the mind in Shiva as the stable Pati, converting turbulent shakti into steady, dharmic action. By taking refuge in Saguna Shiva through pūjā and japa, one avoids the self-defeating agitation that makes action ‘stand on the enemy’s side’—i.e., serve ignorance, pride, and conflict.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with breath steadiness, and perform daily Shiva-pūjā with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) as a reminder to cool tamas and rajas. The takeaway is disciplined effort (niyama) rather than agitated overexertion.