Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

Śiva’s Boon to Viśvakarman and the Manifestation of Devī

Bhavānī/Parāśakti

Devanagari script

ब्रह्माणं तपसाराध्य कुरु तस्य यथेप्सितम् । तामाज्ञां परमेशस्य शिरसा प्रतिगृह्य सा

Transliteration

brahmāṇaṃ tapasārādhya kuru tasya yathepsitam | tāmājñāṃ parameśasya śirasā pratigṛhya sā

Translation

「苦行によってブラフマーを満足させ、彼の望むとおりにせよ。」至上主のその命を頭を垂れて頂戴し、彼女は喜んで受け取った。

Word by Word

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• आराध्य: having propitiated
• आराध्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having propitiated/worshipped’

• कुरु: do
• कुरु: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (Genitive pronoun)

• यथा: as
• यथा: प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (as/according as)

• ईप्सितम्: desired (thing)
• ईप्सितम्: कर्म (Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईप्सित (प्रातिपदिक; √आप्/ईप्स् भावे, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘आज्ञाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• आज्ञाम्: command
• आज्ञाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परमेशस्य: of the Supreme Lord
• परमेशस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (परमः ईशः)

• शिरसा: with (her) head
• शिरसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• प्रतिगृह्य: having accepted
• प्रतिगृह्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having accepted/received’

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches Shaiva siddhānta-style surrender: true tapas culminates in accepting Parameśvara’s ordinance with humility, aligning personal will with Shiva’s will.

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

By stressing obedience to Parameśvara’s command, it supports Saguna devotion—worship is not only ritual but also disciplined compliance with Shiva’s guiding will as expressed through cosmic authorities like Brahmā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse highlights tapas (austerity) and śirasā-grahaṇa (bowed acceptance). Practically, this pairs well with daily japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined vrata/niyama undertaken in a spirit of surrender.