Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

दक्षस्य रुद्रनिन्दा-निमित्तकथनम् / The Cause of Dakṣa’s Censure of Rudra

Devanagari script

पुष्पपट्टपरिस्तीर्णं चित्ररत्नमहासनम् । वज्रजालकिरच्छिद्रमच्छिद्रमणिकुट्टिमम्

Transliteration

puṣpapaṭṭaparistīrṇaṃ citraratnamahāsanam | vajrajālakiracchidramacchidramaṇikuṭṭimam

Translation

ആ മഹാസനം പുഷ്പവസ്ത്രം വിരിച്ചിരുന്നതും, വർണ്ണവൈവിധ്യമുള്ള രത്നങ്ങളാൽ ദീപ്തമായതും; വജ്രജാലസദൃശമായ കാന്തിരക്ഷയാൽ സംരക്ഷിതവും, അഖണ്ഡ മാണിക്യങ്ങൾ പതിച്ച നിർദോഷ കുത്തിമ്മിൽ സ്ഥാപിതവുമായിരുന്നു।

Word by Word

• puṣpa-paṭṭa-paristīrṇam: spread/strewn with flower-cloths
• puṣpa-paṭṭa-paristīrṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + paṭṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + pari√stṝ (धातु) → paristīrṇa (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (puṣpa-paṭṭa = ‘of flower-cloths/flower-bands’)

• citra-ratna-mahā-āsanam: a great seat adorned with variegated jewels
• citra-ratna-mahā-āsanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक/उपसर्गवत्) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महद् आसनम्; चित्ररत्नैः युक्तम्)

• vajra-jāla-kira-cchidram: having perforations like a diamond-net pattern
• vajra-jāla-kira-cchidram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक) + kira (प्रातिपदिक) + chidra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (vajra-jāla = ‘diamond-net’; kira-chidra = ‘having perforations/holes’)

• acchidra-maṇi-kuṭṭimam: a flawless jewel-pavement (without cracks/holes)
• acchidra-maṇi-kuṭṭimam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + chidra (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṭṭima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (acchidra = ‘without holes’; maṇi-kuṭṭima = ‘jewel-pavement’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The flawless jeweled seat and unbroken gem-pavement symbolize the purity and completeness of Śiva’s divine order (Pati), where no defect of bondage (pāśa) can remain; it evokes the perfected, luminous realm attained through devotion and right knowledge.

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

The verse presents a Saguna (manifest) vision—divine throne, radiance, and celestial splendor—supporting temple and Liṅga worship where the devotee contemplates Śiva’s auspicious form as a doorway to realizing the transcendent (Nirguna) reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests śuddhi (inner purification) and dhyāna: visualize a spotless sacred seat for Śiva in the heart, then offer mental पुष्प (flowers) and repeat the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as an inner upacāra (service).