Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 59

सर्‍वेश्वर-परमकारण-निरूपणम् / The Supreme Lord as the Uncaused Cause

Devanagari script

अक्रमेण हरन्मोहाद्यज्ञवाटं हिरण्मयम् । मुनिभिर्यत्र संक्रुद्धैः कुशवज्रैर्निपातितः

Transliteration

akrameṇa haranmohādyajñavāṭaṃ hiraṇmayam | munibhiryatra saṃkruddhaiḥ kuśavajrairnipātitaḥ

Translation

മോഹവശനായി ക്രമമില്ലാതെ അവൻ സ്വർണമയ യജ്ഞവാടം അപഹരിച്ചു; എന്നാൽ അവിടെ ക്രുദ്ധരായ മുനിമാർ കുശതൃണ-വജ്രങ്ങളാൽ പ്രഹരിച്ചു അവനെ വീഴ്ത്തി.

Word by Word

• akrameṇa: irregularly
• akrameṇa: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: a-krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial instrumental usage (तृतीया-अर्थे अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः); literally 'by non-order' → 'irregularly/out of sequence'

• haran: stealing/carrying off
• haran: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/कर्तृसम्बद्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (हृ धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agreeing with implied subject (Purūravas)

• mohāt: from delusion
• mohāt: Hetu (हेतु/पञ्चमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: moha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• yajña-vāṭam: the sacrificial enclosure
• yajña-vāṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña + vāṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; (yajñasya vāṭaḥ)

• hiraṇmayam: golden
• hiraṇmayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hiraṇmaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agreeing with yajña-vāṭam

• munibhiḥ: by sages
• munibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Relative adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• saṃkruddhaiḥ: angered
• saṃkruddhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃ-kruddha (कृदन्त; √krudh क्रुध् धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त) used adjectivally; Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; agreeing with munibhiḥ

• kuśa-vajraiḥ: with kuśa-blades like thunderbolts
• kuśa-vajraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśa + vajra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; 'vajra-like kuśa'

• nipātitaḥ: was struck down/caused to fall
• nipātitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + pat (पत् धातु)
• Form: Causative/passive sense PPP (क्त) from ni-pat/ni-pātay; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicative of the subject

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The episode depicts a transgression against yajña (carrying off the golden sacrificial enclosure) and its immediate correction by enraged sages using kuśa as vajra—underscoring the inviolability of sacred order in the kṣetra narrative.

Significance: Functions as a dharma-warning within kṣetra-māhātmya: sacrificial space is protected by tapas and mantra-śakti; violation leads to swift downfall, reinforcing reverence for ritual boundaries.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Sages (Munis)

FAQs

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

It highlights how moha (delusion) leads to disorder and downfall, while the disciplined spiritual force of the munis—symbolized by kuśa turned into vajra—upholds dharma; in Shaiva thought, liberation requires cutting through moha and pasha (bondage).

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

Even when the scene is about yajna, the Shiva Purana repeatedly teaches that external ritual without inner clarity can be overturned by delusion; Saguna Shiva is approached through purity, restraint, and right orientation of worship rather than mere display of ritual grandeur.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies steadiness and order in sadhana: perform worship with disciplined intention (niyama), and use purifying supports like kuśa (ritual purity), along with Shaiva practices such as japa of the Panchakshara and contemplation to overcome moha.