Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

मन्वन्तर-कल्प-प्रश्नोत्तरम् / Discourse on Manvantaras, Kalpas, and Re-creation

Devanagari script

ततः प्रबुद्ध उत्थाय शयनात्तोयमध्यगात् । उदैक्षत दिशः सर्वा योगनिद्रालसेक्षणः

Transliteration

tataḥ prabuddha utthāya śayanāttoyamadhyagāt | udaikṣata diśaḥ sarvā yoganidrālasekṣaṇaḥ

Translation

അപ്പോൾ അവൻ ഉണർന്ന് ശയനസ്ഥാനത്തിൽ നിന്ന് എഴുന്നേറ്റ് ജലത്തിന്റെ മദ്ധ്യത്തിലേക്ക് ചെന്നു. യോഗനിദ്രയുടെ മന്ദമായ ദൃഷ്ടിയോടെ അവൻ എല്ലാ ദിക്കുകളെയും നോക്കി.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kala (काल/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/अनन्तरं (ablatival/temporal adverb)

• प्रबुद्धः: awakened
• प्रबुद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-बुध् (धातु) → प्रबुद्ध (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (awakened)

• उत्थाय: having risen
• उत्थाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• शयनात्: from (his) bed/resting place
• शयनात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/Ablative), एकवचन

• तोय-मध्य-गात्: (he who) had gone into the midst of the water
• तोय-मध्य-गात्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (तोयस्य मध्ये गतः)

• उदैक्षत: he looked
• उदैक्षत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दिशः: the directions
• दिशः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (दिशः)

• योग-निद्रा-आलस-ईक्षणः: whose gaze was languid from yogic sleep
• योग-निद्रा-आलस-ईक्षणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + आलस (प्रातिपदिक) + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (योगनिद्रया आलसं ईक्षणं यस्य)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Cosmic ‘waters’ motif: the Lord rises from repose and enters the midst of the primordial waters, a prelude to ordering the directions and initiating manifestation.

Significance: Meditation on the Lord ‘surveying the directions’ supports digbandhana (directional sanctification) and inner orientation before worship.

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Transition from yoganidrā (withdrawal) to outward cosmic orientation (directions)—a microcosm of emanation

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It portrays the transition from yogic absorption to outward awareness—symbolizing how consciousness, after deep inward stillness, re-engages the worlds. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it hints that all cosmic activity proceeds after a state of withdrawal, under the higher governance of Pati (the Supreme Lord).

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

Though the verse describes a deity awakening in cosmic waters, the Vayu Samhita’s broader intent is to direct attention to the Supreme Lord as the inner ruler of such cosmic functions. Linga worship centers on that transcendent Pati—beyond sleep and waking—while also accessible as Saguna Shiva for devotion and contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse supports meditation on yogic withdrawal and re-emergence: practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady breath, contemplating inward stillness (laya) and then mindful awareness of all directions—seeing them pervaded by Shiva.