Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21

मङ्गलाचरणम्, तीर्थ-परिसरः, सूतागमनम् — Invocation, Sacred Setting, and the Arrival of Sūta

Devanagari script

नंदिनं च तथा व्यासं साक्षात्सत्यवतीसुतम् । वक्ष्यामि परमं पुण्यं पुराणं वेदसंमितम्

Transliteration

naṃdinaṃ ca tathā vyāsaṃ sākṣātsatyavatīsutam | vakṣyāmi paramaṃ puṇyaṃ purāṇaṃ vedasaṃmitam

Translation

നന്ദീശ്വരനെയും സത്യവതീപുത്രനായ സാക്ഷാത് വ്യാസനെയും വന്ദിച്ച്, വേദസമപ്രമാണമായ ഈ പരമപുണ്യപുരാണം ഞാൻ ഇപ്പോൾ പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• नन्दिनम्: Nandin
• नन्दिनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of salutation; from previous context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: likewise/also)

• व्यासम्: Vyāsa
• व्यासम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of salutation; from previous context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण/निपात (indeclinable: directly/in person)

• सत्यवती-सुतम्: son of Satyavatī
• सत्यवती-सुतम्: अप्पोजिशन/विशेष्यसम्बन्ध (Apposition to vyāsam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यवती (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (son of Satyavatī)

• वक्ष्यामि: I shall speak
• वक्ष्यामि: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to purāṇam)

• पुण्यम्: holy/meritorious
• पुण्यम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to purāṇam)

• पुराणम्: Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वेद-संमितम्: in accord with the Veda
• वेद-संमितम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + संमित (सम्+मा धातु, क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तुल्य/प्रमाण-तत्पुरुष (commensurate with the Veda); विशेषण (to purāṇam)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes Purāṇa as vedasaṃmita (Veda-equivalent) for those unable to access Vedic adhikāra fully; śravaṇa becomes a grace-channel (anugraha) for liberation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Nandi
• Vyasa
• Satyavati

FAQs

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

The verse establishes an auspicious opening: by bowing to Nandin (Śiva’s foremost devotee and gatekeeper) and to Vyāsa (the revealer of Purāṇic wisdom), the narrator sanctifies the transmission and affirms that this Shaiva Purāṇa carries Veda-like authority for guiding the soul toward Śiva (Pati).

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

Invoking Nandin directly points to Śiva’s personal, saguna presence and the living tradition of devotion surrounding Śiva and the Liṅga; it frames the Purāṇa as a legitimate means to approach Śiva through hearing, remembrance, and temple-centered bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A key takeaway is śravaṇa (reverent listening/recitation) as a purifying practice: begin Purāṇa study with salutations to Śiva’s devotees and gurus, then listen with devotion—optionally accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) for steadiness of mind.