Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 28

सत्याः पुनस्तपश्चर्या — Satī’s Return to Austerity (Tapas) and Fearless Liṅga-Worship

Devanagari script

अथवा सर्वमेवैतत्क्रीडाविलसितं तव । इदन्तु चित्रं देवस्य विरहं सहसे कथम्

Transliteration

athavā sarvamevaitatkrīḍāvilasitaṃ tava | idantu citraṃ devasya virahaṃ sahase katham

Translation

あるいは、これらすべてはまことに汝のリーラー（神聖なる戯れ）にすぎぬのか。だが実に驚くべきことよ——いかにして汝は大自在天マハーデーヴァ（シヴァ）との離別に耐え得るのか。

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-समुच्चय/विकल्प (disjunctive particle: “or else”)

• सर्वम्: all (of it)
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic particle)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• क्रीडा-विलसितम्: a playful display
• क्रीडा-विलसितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक) + विलसित (कृदन्त; √लस् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/निर्देशात्मक: “क्रीडायाः विलसितम्” (sport’s play/manifestation)

• तव: of you/your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/however)

• चित्रम्: strange/wondrous
• चित्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• देवस्य: of the god
• देवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• विरहम्: separation
• विरहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सहसे: you endure/you can bear
• सहसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (interrogative adverb)

Speaker

An attendant/narrative voice addressing Devī (Pārvatī) within the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā discourse as relayed by Sūta to the sages

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse frames worldly events as Śiva-śakti līlā, yet highlights viraha (pain of separation) as a purifying bhakti-state that intensifies remembrance of Pati (Śiva) and loosens the bonds (pāśa) that keep the soul restless.

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

When separation is felt, devotees take refuge in Saguna upāsanā—especially the Śiva-liṅga—as the accessible presence of the Lord. Linga worship transforms longing into steady contemplation, turning emotion into disciplined devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Channel viraha into japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with mental dhyāna of Śiva in the liṅga; on Mahāśivarātri, combine it with simple vrata (fasting), night vigil, and offering water/bilva leaves in remembrance.