Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 68

अन्तराय-उपसर्ग-विवेचनम् / Analysis of Yogic Obstacles (Antarāyas) and Upasargas

Devanagari script

अधो दलस्याम्बुजस्य एतस्य २ च दलानि षट् । विधूमांगारवर्णस्य वर्णा वाद्याश्च लान्तिमाः

Transliteration

adho dalasyāmbujasya etasya 2 ca dalāni ṣaṭ | vidhūmāṃgāravarṇasya varṇā vādyāśca lāntimāḥ

Translation

En bas, dans le lotus inférieur, il y a six pétales en plus de ces deux. Leurs teintes sont comme des braises sans fumée, et les sons (vibrations) correspondants sont décrits en conséquence.

Word by Word

• अधः: below
• अधः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Spatial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय — adverb ‘below’

• दलस्य: of the petal
• दलस्य: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — genitive singular

• अम्बुजस्य: of the lotus
• अम्बुजस्य: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — genitive singular

• एतस्य: of this
• एतस्य: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन — genitive singular

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय — conjunction

• दलानि: petals
• दलानि: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन — nominative/accusative plural

• षट्: six
• षट्: विशेषण (Qualifier/संख्या)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनार्थे — numeral ‘six’ qualifying दलानि

• विधूमाङ्गारवर्णस्य: of the color of smokeless charcoal
• विधूमाङ्गारवर्णस्य: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-धूम + अङ्गार + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘विधूमाङ्गारस्य वर्णः’), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — genitive singular

• वर्णाः: letters/syllables
• वर्णाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — nominative plural

• वाद्याः: to be uttered
• वाद्याः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाच् (धातु) → वाद्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाव्य/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त ‘to be uttered/recited’, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — agreeing with वर्णाः

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय — conjunction

• लान्तिमाः: ending with ‘la’
• लान्तिमाः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ल + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (अन्त-निर्देश: ‘लान्ताः’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — agreeing with वर्णाः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It points to inner yogic contemplation: the lotus-centers of the subtle body are described with specific petals, colors, and sounds, guiding the seeker to refine awareness and turn it toward Pati (Shiva) for liberation.

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

The lotus imagery supports Saguna-upāsanā internally: as the devotee meditates on form, color, and sacred sound, the mind becomes steady and fit to recognize Shiva as the indwelling Lord (the inner Linga/principle of Pati).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditative japa with attentive listening to mantra-sound (nāda) while visualizing the lotus and its ember-like radiance—an inward, Shaiva yoga-oriented practice rather than an external rite.