Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

Mantra Efficacy, Removal of Obstacles, and the Role of Faith/Discipline

Devanagari script

तस्याः पूर्वमुखं सौम्यं स्वाकारसदृशप्रभम् । दक्षिणं नीलजीमूतसदृशं घोरदर्शनम्

Transliteration

tasyāḥ pūrvamukhaṃ saumyaṃ svākārasadṛśaprabham | dakṣiṇaṃ nīlajīmūtasadṛśaṃ ghoradarśanam

Translation

അവളുടെ കിഴക്കുമുഖം സൗമ്യവും മംഗളകരവും ആയിരുന്നു; സ്വന്തം ദിവ്യസ്വഭാവത്തിന് അനുയോജ്യമായ പ്രഭയോടെ ദീപ്തമായിരുന്നു. എന്നാൽ തെക്കുമുഖം നീലമേഘത്തെപ്പോലെ, ദർശനത്തിൽ ഭയാനകമായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-रूपम्

• पूर्व-मुखम्: the eastern face
• पूर्व-मुखम्: कर्म (Karma/Accusative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Nom/Acc), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (directional determinative)

• सौम्यम्: gentle, auspicious
• सौम्यम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• स्व-आकार-सदृश-प्रभम्: having a radiance like its own form
• स्व-आकार-सदृश-प्रभम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक) + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (determinative: 'having lustre similar to its own form')

• दक्षिणम्: the southern (face/direction)
• दक्षिणम्: कर्म (Karma/Accusative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचनम्; दिक्शब्दः

• नील-जीमूत-सदृशम्: like a dark-blue cloud
• नील-जीमूत-सदृशम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + जीमूत (प्रातिपदिक) + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (comparison: 'like a blue cloud')

• घोर-दर्शनम्: terrible-looking
• घोर-दर्शनम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः ('terrible in appearance')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Directional faces encode the governance of the quarters; the gentle east face reassures the paśu, while the terrifying south face confronts mortality and fear—both serving the pedagogy of tirodhāna leading to anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It presents the one divine power as multi-aspected: gentleness that grants grace and protection, and awe-inspiring ferocity that dissolves fear, ego, and impurity—both serving liberation under the Lord’s governance (Pati).

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

In Saguna worship, devotees contemplate form and attributes: the soothing, auspicious aspect draws the mind into devotion, while the formidable aspect teaches reverence and surrender. Both culminate in steadiness toward the Linga, the unifying symbol of Shiva’s transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna (meditation) on Shiva-Shakti’s contrasting yet unified aspects while repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating both intimacy (saumya-bhāva) and reverential awe (ghora-bhāva).