Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

विद्याश्चेमा ददौ पूर्वं विश्वसृष्ट्यर्थमीश्वरः । पालनाय हरिं देवं रक्षाशक्तिं ददौ ततः

Transliteration

vidyāścemā dadau pūrvaṃ viśvasṛṣṭyarthamīśvaraḥ | pālanāya hariṃ devaṃ rakṣāśaktiṃ dadau tataḥ

Translation

ആദിയിൽ ഈശ്വരൻ വിശ്വസൃഷ്ടിക്കായി ഈ വിദ്യകൾ ദാനം ചെയ്തു; തുടർന്ന് ലോകങ്ങളുടെ പാലന-രക്ഷയ്ക്കായി ദേവ ഹരിക്ക് രക്ഷാശക്തി നൽകി.

Word by Word

• विद्याः: knowledges/branches of learning
• विद्याः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• इमाः: these
• इमाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पूर्वम्: formerly/first
• पूर्वम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrvam (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• विश्व-सृष्टि-अर्थम्: for the purpose of creating the universe
• विश्व-सृष्टि-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष/प्रयोजनार्थक-समास (‘for the purpose of world-creation’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative of purpose)

• ईश्वरः: the Lord
• ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पालनाय: for protection/maintenance
• पालनाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient-purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pālana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदानार्थ

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; हरिम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• रक्षा-शक्तिम्: protective power
• रक्षा-शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘power of protection’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रम/अपादानार्थक (then/thereafter; also ‘from that’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmogonic beginning (sṛṣṭi-ārambha)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Hari
• Ishvara

FAQs

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

It establishes Shaiva Siddhanta hierarchy: Shiva (Pati/Īśvara) is the source of all cosmic functions, bestowing knowledge for creation and protective power for preservation, showing that all divine roles operate by His sanction.

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

By presenting Īśvara as the giver of all powers, the verse supports Linga/Saguna Shiva worship as devotion to the supreme governor behind Brahma’s creation and Vishnu’s preservation—worship directed to the source rather than only the functions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Shiva as the indwelling Lord empowering all actions, while reciting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with the intent of surrendering one’s capacities to Īśvara for right use and protection.