Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19

लिङ्गप्रतिष्ठा-माहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of Liṅga Installation

Devanagari script

ददर्श पुण्डरीकाक्षं स्वपन्तं तमनाकुलम् । मायया मोहितः शम्भोर्विष्णुमाह पितामहः

Transliteration

dadarśa puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ svapantaṃ tamanākulam | māyayā mohitaḥ śambhorviṣṇumāha pitāmahaḥ

Translation

അവൻ പുണ്ഡരീകാക്ഷനായ വിഷ്ണുവിനെ കലക്കമില്ലാതെ നിദ്രിക്കുന്നതായി കണ്ടു. ശംഭുവിന്റെ മായയിൽ മോഹിതനായ പിതാമഹൻ ബ്രഹ്മാവ് വിഷ്ണുവിനെ അഭിസംബോധന ചെയ്തു.

Word by Word

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्/perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• puṇḍarīkākṣam: the lotus-eyed (Viṣṇu)
• puṇḍarīkākṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇḍarīka + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; bahuvrīhi ‘one whose eyes are like lotuses’

• svapantam: sleeping
• svapantam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svapant (कृदन्त; √svap (धातु) + शतृ)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; present active participle qualifying puṇḍarīkākṣam

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; pronoun referring to Viṣṇu

• anākulam: undisturbed/unagitated
• anākulam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anākula (प्रातिपदिक; an- + ākula)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective qualifying tam

• māyayā: by (his) māyā/illusion
• māyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• mohitaḥ: deluded
• mohitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mohita (कृदन्त; √muh (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; past passive participle qualifying pitāmahaḥ

• śambhoḥ: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• śambhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• viṣṇum: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āha: said/spoke
• āha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्/perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• pitāmahaḥ: the Grandfather (Brahmā)
• pitāmahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana account)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva (Pati) as the Lord of māyā: even Brahmā can be veiled by Śambhu’s power, teaching that liberation requires grace and right knowledge beyond cosmic roles.

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

The verse frames Śiva as the supreme controller of manifestation and delusion; worship of the Liṅga/Saguṇa Śiva is presented as a concrete means to turn the mind from māyā to the transcendent Lord who grants clarity and release.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and inward contemplation that all delusion is overcome by Śiva’s grace and steady awareness.