Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 12

मन्वन्तर-कल्प-प्रश्नोत्तरम् / Discourse on Manvantaras, Kalpas, and Re-creation

Devanagari script

दिक्षु सर्वासु मग्नासु वारिपूरे महीयसि । तदद्भिश्चटुलाक्षेपैस्तरंगभुजमण्डलैः

Transliteration

dikṣu sarvāsu magnāsu vāripūre mahīyasi | tadadbhiścaṭulākṣepaistaraṃgabhujamaṇḍalaiḥ

Translation

あらゆる方角が沈み、大地が遍く水で満たされたとき、その水は落ち着きなく投げ上がり、腕輪のようにめぐる波の輪をもって、四方へと湧き立ち広がった。

Word by Word

• दिक्षु: in the directions
• दिक्षु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• सर्वासु: in all
• सर्वासु: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• मग्नासु: submerged
• मग्नासु: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मग्न (कृदन्त; √मज्ज् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• वारि-पूरे: in the flood of water
• वारि-पूरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (water’s flood)

• महीयसि: in the greater (vast) one
• महीयसि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महीयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेष्य/कर्म (Referent/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; संकेत (deictic)

• अद्भिः: with waters
• अद्भिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्/अद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• चटुल-आक्षेपैः: with playful tossings/jerks
• चटुल-आक्षेपैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चटुल (प्रातिपदिक) + आक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (playful/quick = ākṣepa)

• तरङ्ग-भुज-मण्डलैः: with circles of wave-like arms
• तरङ्ग-भुज-मण्डलैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-समास (circle/cluster of wave-arms)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: total submergence of directions; pralaya inundation (jala-pralaya imagery)

FAQs

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

The all-engulfing flood imagery points to pralaya and, on a subtler level, the overwhelming force of saṃsāra; Shaiva teaching emphasizes that only Pati (Śiva) remains the steady refuge when all supports and directions are “submerged.”

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

When the world is portrayed as unstable like surging waters, the Linga is contemplated as the unmoving axis of consciousness—Saguna Śiva as the accessible support for devotion, leading the devotee toward the Nirguna reality beyond change.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with inward dhyāna on Śiva as the calm center amid mental “waves,” supported by Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa as reminders of renunciation and focus.