Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 26

दक्षस्य यज्ञप्रवृत्तिः तथा ईश्वरवर्जितदेवसमागमः

Dakṣa’s Sacrificial Undertaking and the Devas’ Assembly without Īśvara

Devanagari script

शूलटंकगदाहस्तं दीप्तकार्मुकधारिणम् । चक्रवज्रधरं घोरं चंद्रार्धकृतशेखरम्

Transliteration

śūlaṭaṃkagadāhastaṃ dīptakārmukadhāriṇam | cakravajradharaṃ ghoraṃ caṃdrārdhakṛtaśekharam

Translation

御手には三叉戟と戦斧と棍棒を執り、燃え輝く弓を携えた。さらに円盤と金剛杵を振るい、威容は凄まじく、頂には半月を冠として戴いていた。

Word by Word

• शूलटंकगदाहस्तम्: whose hands hold spear, pick/axe, and mace
• शूलटंकगदाहस्तम्: विशेषण (of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूल + टंक + गदा + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (शूल-टंक-गदा-हस्तः = whose hand(s) (hold) spear, axe/pick, and mace); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• दीप्तकार्मुकधारिणम्: bearing a blazing bow
• दीप्तकार्मुकधारिणम्: विशेषण (of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्त + कार्मुक + धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (दीप्तं कार्मुकं धारयति = bearing a blazing bow); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• चक्रवज्रधरम्: bearing discus and thunderbolt
• चक्रवज्रधरम्: विशेषण (of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चक्र + वज्र + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद + तत्पुरुष (चक्रं च वज्रं च धरति = bearing discus and thunderbolt); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: विशेषण (of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• चंद्रार्धकृतशेखरम्: with the half-moon as his crest
• चंद्रार्धकृतशेखरम्: विशेषण (of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र + अर्ध + कृत + शेखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष (चन्द्रस्य अर्धं कृतः शेखरः यस्य = having the half-moon made into a crest); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Weapon-bearing, crescent-crested, terrifying majesty marks the Lord’s fierce executive power—iconographically bridging Rudra-Bhairava traits in the Dakṣa-yajña crisis.

Significance: Meditation on the ghorarūpa protects devotees from inner enemies (ahaṃkāra, krodha) and outer obstacles; the crescent signifies mastery over time and mind.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents Shiva’s Saguna (manifest) form as the supreme Protector and Liberator: His weapons symbolize mastery over ego, karma, and bondage (pāśa), while the crescent moon signifies His sovereignty over time and the mind—inviting devotees to contemplate Pati (the Lord) who grants moksha.

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

Though Linga worship points to Shiva’s transcendent reality, this verse supports dhyāna on Saguna Shiva—Chandrārdhaśekhara—so the devotee’s mind becomes one-pointed; that focused devotion naturally culminates in reverence for the Linga as Shiva’s all-pervading presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Shiva-dhyāna: visualize Chandrashekhara with radiant weapons, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and wear rudrākṣa if possible, and repeat the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to steady the mind and dissolve fear.