Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 22

स्कन्दसरः (Skandasara) — तीर्थवर्णनम् / Description of the Skandasara Sacred Lake

Devanagari script

ददृशे तत्क्षणे तस्मिन्विमानं भानुसन्निभम् । गणेश्वरैरसंख्येयैः संवृतं च समंततः

Transliteration

dadṛśe tatkṣaṇe tasminvimānaṃ bhānusannibham | gaṇeśvarairasaṃkhyeyaiḥ saṃvṛtaṃ ca samaṃtataḥ

Translation

En cet instant même apparut un vimāna céleste, rayonnant comme le soleil, et il était entouré de toutes parts par d’innombrables Gaṇeśvaras, les troupes servantes de Śiva.

Word by Word

• ददृशे: was seen/appeared
• ददृशे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect tense (लिट्), Ātmanepada; 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• तत्-क्षणे: at that moment
• तत्-क्षणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; समास: तस्मिन् क्षणे

• तस्मिन्: in that (place/time)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; refers to place/time context

• विमानम्: a celestial chariot/aircraft
• विमानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; subject of ददृशे

• भानु-सन्निभम्: sun-like
• भानु-सन्निभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भानु (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agreeing with विमानम्; समास: भानुना सन्निभम् (like the sun)

• गणेश्वरैः: by Gaṇeśvaras (chiefs of Śiva’s attendants)
• गणेश्वरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; 'lords of the gaṇas'

• असंख्येयैः: countless
• असंख्येयैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असंख्येय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; agreeing with गणेश्वरैः

• संवृतम्: surrounded/covered
• संवृतम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+√वृ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agreeing with विमानम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-बोधक)

• समन्ततः: on all sides
• समन्ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक) meaning 'on all sides'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Deva-vimāna manifestation; epiphanic arrival of Śaiva gaṇa-hosts

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganesha
• Ganas
• Gaṇeśvaras

FAQs

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

The sun-like vimāna signifies the palpable descent of Śiva’s grace into the visible world, while the innumerable Gaṇeśvaras indicate the Lord’s protective, orderly power that surrounds and safeguards the devotee and the sacred event.

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

Though Śiva is ultimately transcendent (beyond form), the Purana emphasizes Saguna manifestations for devotion: radiant vehicles, divine retinues, and attendant hosts show how the formless Lord becomes approachable through auspicious signs that support bhakti and temple/linga-centered worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva’s protective gaṇas encircling you while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); as an external aid, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and maintain a disciplined, reverent mind, as if standing within a sacred, guarded mandala.