Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14

Śiva’s Freedom from Bondage and His Cosmic Support (शिवस्य अबन्धत्वं तथा सर्वाधिष्ठानत्वम्)

Devanagari script

बालाग्रमात्रो हृन्मध्ये विचिंत्यो दहरांतरे । हिरण्यकेशः पद्माक्षो ह्यरुणस्ताम्र एव च

Transliteration

bālāgramātro hṛnmadhye viciṃtyo daharāṃtare | hiraṇyakeśaḥ padmākṣo hyaruṇastāmra eva ca

Translation

Dans le lotus du cœur, dans l’espace intérieur subtil (dahara), qu’on Le contemple plus petit que la pointe d’un cheveu : aux cheveux d’or, aux yeux de lotus, rayonnant d’une teinte rougeâtre, cuivrée.

Word by Word

• बालाग्रमात्रः: of the measure of a hair-tip
• बालाग्रमात्रः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाल + अग्र + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective); ‘बालस्य अग्रस्य मात्रः’ = hair-tip-sized

• हृत्-मध्ये: in the middle of the heart
• हृत्-मध्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृत् (हृदय) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location)

• विचिन्त्यः: to be contemplated
• विचिन्त्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + √चिन्त् (धातु) + य (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘चिन्तनीयः’

• दहर-अन्तरे: within the dahara (subtle inner space)
• दहर-अन्तरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दहर + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• हिरण्यकेशः: golden-haired
• हिरण्यकेशः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिरण्य + केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘हिरण्यवत् केशाः यस्य’ (golden-haired)

• पद्माक्षः: lotus-eyed
• पद्माक्षः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘पद्मवत् अक्षिणी यस्य’ (lotus-eyed)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/अवधारण (indeed/for)

• अरुणः: reddish, tawny
• अरुणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ताम्रः: coppery-red
• ताम्रः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga legend; it is an antaryāmin/dahara-dhyāna instruction aligning inner contemplation with Śiva’s immanence.

Significance: Frames the ‘inner pilgrimage’: meditation on Śiva in the heart-lotus is treated as equivalent in intent to external tīrtha-yātrā—turning the mind from pāśa to Pati.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches inner worship (antar-yajana): Shiva, though infinite as Pati, is to be realized intimately in the heart’s subtle space as a luminous, graspable focus for meditation, leading the bound soul (paśu) beyond bondage (pāśa) toward liberation.

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

Just as the Linga is a sacred support (ālambana) for devotion, this verse gives an internal support—Shiva’s radiant Saguna form within the heart—so the devotee can unite outer reverence with inner dhyāna.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice heart-centered dhyāna: sit steadily, draw awareness to the heart-lotus (dahara), and contemplate Shiva as a subtle, radiant presence; this can be paired with japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to stabilize concentration.