Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 53

पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge

Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati

Devanagari script

प्रजज्ज्वाल महावह्निः प्रचंडः पवनो ववौ । प्रवृद्धो ऽपांपतिर्यद्वत्प्रलये समुपस्थिते

Transliteration

prajajjvāla mahāvahniḥ pracaṃḍaḥ pavano vavau | pravṛddho 'pāṃpatiryadvatpralaye samupasthite

Translation

大いなる火が燃え上がり、激しい風が吹き始めた。そして水の主は、宇宙の解脱（プララヤ）が近づく時のように、膨れ上がる力で立ち上がった。

Word by Word

• प्रजज्ज्वाल: blazing forth
• प्रजज्ज्वाल: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ज्वल् (धातु) → प्रजज्ज्वाल (कृदन्त, क्त/भूतकृदन्त-प्रायः)
• Form: कृदन्तः; भूतकृदन्त-रूपम् (past participle sense), प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्ग (वह्निः इत्यस्य विशेषणवत्)

• महावह्निः: the great fire
• महावह्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā (प्रातिपदिक) + वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (महान् वह्निः)

• प्रचण्डः: fierce, violent
• प्रचण्डः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रचण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पवनस्य/वह्नेः)

• पवनः: the wind
• पवनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ववौ: blew
• ववौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वा (धातु) (वाति)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• प्रवृद्धः: grown, intensified
• प्रवृद्धः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + वृध् (धातु) → प्रवृद्ध (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अपाम्पतिः)

• अपाम्: of the waters
• अपाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; ‘waters’ (genitive plural)

• पतिः: lord, master
• पतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• यद्वत्: just as
• यद्वत्: Sambandha (उपमान-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; उपमानार्थक-निपातः (comparative particle: ‘just as’)

• प्रलये: at the dissolution (cosmic deluge)
• प्रलये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरणम्

• समुपस्थिते: when (it) had arrived / being present
• समुपस्थिते: Adhikaraṇa-viśeṣaṇa (अधिकरण-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + उप + स्था (धातु) → समुपस्थित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘प्रलये’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (locative absolute-like setting: ‘when the pralaya has arrived’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya (dissolution) imagery invoked: fire, wind, swelling waters

Characters & Entities

• Pralaya
• Apam-pati (Lord of the Waters)

FAQs

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

It highlights the approach of pralaya—fire, wind, and waters intensify—pointing to the impermanence of the cosmos and implying that only Shiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) remains the stable refuge beyond changing elements.

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

The verse contrasts unstable cosmic forces with the steadfast principle of Shiva; Linga-worship centers the devotee on that unshaken reality, the visible sign (liṅga) of the Lord who transcends creation, preservation, and dissolution.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the inner Lord beyond the elements while repeating the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to cultivate detachment from worldly flux and steadiness in devotion (bhakti) and discernment.