Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 26

काम्यकर्मविभागः — Taxonomy of Kāmya (Desire-Motivated) Śaiva Rites

Devanagari script

पश्चिमं पूर्णचन्द्राभं लोचनत्रितयोज्ज्वलम् । चन्द्ररेखाधरं सौम्यं मंदस्मितमनोहरम्

Transliteration

paścimaṃ pūrṇacandrābhaṃ locanatritayojjvalam | candrarekhādharaṃ saumyaṃ maṃdasmitamanoharam

Translation

ಅವರು ಪಶ್ಚಿಮಾಭಿಮುಖನಾಗಿ, ಪೂರ್ಣಚಂದ್ರನಂತೆ ಪ್ರಕಾಶಿಸಿ, ತ್ರಿನೇತ್ರಗಳ ದೀಪ್ತಿಯಿಂದ ಜ್ವಲಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಚಂದ್ರರೇಖೆಯನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿದ ಸೌಮ್ಯ, ಮಂಗಳಮಯ; ಮಂದಹಾಸದಿಂದ ಹೃದಯವನ್ನು ಮೋಹಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ.

Word by Word

• paścimam: western (one)
• paścimam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paścima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter, acc./nom. sg.; adjectival)

• pūrṇa-candra-ābham: having the lustre/appearance of a full moon
• pūrṇa-candra-ābham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + candra (प्रातिपदिक) + ābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/उपमान-निर्देशः (pūrṇacandrasya ābhaḥ) (neuter acc./nom. sg.; genitive-tatpurusha, ‘having the appearance of a full moon’)

• locana-tritaya-ujjvalam: bright with three eyes
• locana-tritaya-ujjvalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: locana (प्रातिपदिक) + tritaya (प्रातिपदिक) + ujjvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (locanānāṃ tritayasya ujjvalam) (neuter acc./nom. sg.; ‘bright with a triad of eyes’)

• candra-rekhā-dharam: bearing the crescent-moon line
• candra-rekhā-dharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + rekhā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (rekhāṃ dharati) + षष्ठीसम्बन्धः (candrasya rekhā) (neuter acc./nom. sg.; ‘bearing the moon-line/crescent’)

• saumyam: gentle, auspicious
• saumyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saumya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter acc./nom. sg.; gentle/pleasant)

• manda-smita-mano-haram: charming with a gentle smile
• manda-smita-mano-haram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manda (प्रातिपदिक) + smita (प्रातिपदिक) + manas (प्रातिपदिक) + hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; बहु-तत्पुरुषसमासः (mandasmitaṃ yasya, tat manoharam) (neuter acc./nom. sg.; ‘mind-stealing with a gentle smile’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative icon) of Pati—Shiva as the compassionate Lord whose moonlike serenity and three-eyed radiance dissolve pāśa (bondage) and steady the devotee in auspicious awareness.

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

While the Linga points to Shiva’s nirguṇa depth, this verse supports saguna-upāsanā by giving a clear form for meditation—three eyes, crescent moon, gentle smile—so the mind becomes one-pointed and devotion matures into inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice śiva-dhyāna by visualizing Mahadeva as described while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”); offer mental upacāras with a calm breath, letting the ‘full-moon’ steadiness pacify the mind.