Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

कंठे नागेन मौलौ च शशांकेनाप्यलंकृतम् । सविग्रहमिवैश्वर्यं सामर्थ्यमिव सक्रियम्

Transliteration

kaṃṭhe nāgena maulau ca śaśāṃkenāpyalaṃkṛtam | savigrahamivaiśvaryaṃ sāmarthyamiva sakriyam

Translation

Di leher-Nya terhias ular, dan di mahkota-Nya tersemat bulan. Seakan-akan keagungan ketuhanan-Nya menjelma berwujud, dan daya-Nya yang tak terbatas tampak bekerja nyata.

Word by Word

• कण्ठे: on the neck
• कण्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• नागेन: by/with a serpent
• नागेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• मौलौ: on the head/topknot
• मौलौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Locative, Singular

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

• शशाङ्केन: by/with the moon
• शशाङ्केन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशाङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): ‘also’

• अलङ्कृतम्: adorned
• अलङ्कृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अलङ् + कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Past participle, Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular

• सविग्रहम्: embodied/with form
• सविग्रहम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स- (उपसर्ग/सह) + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (विग्रहेण सह/विग्रहयुक्तम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; विशेषण

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• ऐश्वर्यम्: sovereignty/divine power
• ऐश्वर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular

• सामर्थ्यम्: capability/power
• सामर्थ्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामर्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• सक्रियम्: active/with action
• सक्रियम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स- (उपसर्ग/सह) + क्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (क्रियया सह/क्रियायुक्तम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; iconographic markers (serpent at throat, moon on crown) align with pan-Indic Mahādeva imagery used in many sthala traditions.

Significance: Contemplative benefit: dhyāna on Śiva’s aiśvarya (sovereignty) and sāmarthya (effective power) as ‘embodied’ strengthens bhakti and reliance on Pati rather than on worldly supports (pāśa).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse contemplates Shiva’s auspicious, visible marks (serpent and moon) to reveal His aiśvarya (sovereignty) and sāmarthya (effective power). In Shaiva understanding, meditating on these signs steadies devotion and points to the Lord as the living source of protection, grace, and liberation.

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

It supports Saguna-upāsanā: the mind is given sacred attributes to hold—Shiva as the adorned Lord. Such contemplation naturally leads to Linga worship, where the formless reality (Nirguṇa) is approached through a sanctified support (Saguna symbol) for concentration and surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice dhyāna on Shiva’s form while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), visualizing the moon on His head and the serpent at His throat; this trains the mind to see His power as present and active, supporting steadiness in japa and pūjā.