Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30

स्कन्दसरः (Skandasara) — तीर्थवर्णनम् / Description of the Skandasara Sacred Lake

Devanagari script

शिलादतनयं साक्षाच्छ्रीमच्छूलवरायुधम् । विश्वेश्वरगणाध्यक्षं विश्वेश्वरमिवापरम्

Transliteration

śilādatanayaṃ sākṣācchrīmacchūlavarāyudham | viśveśvaragaṇādhyakṣaṃ viśveśvaramivāparam

Translation

അവൻ ശിലാദന്റെ പുത്രനെ സാക്ഷാൽ ദർശിച്ചു—ശ്രീമാനായി, ശ്രേഷ്ഠായുധമായ ത്രിശൂലം ധരിച്ചവൻ; വിശ്വേശ്വരന്റെ ഗണങ്ങളുടെ അധിപൻ, മറ്റൊരു വിശ്വേശ്വരൻപോലെ തന്നെ.

Word by Word

• शिलादतनयम्: the son of Śilāda
• शिलादतनयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिलाद (प्रातिपदिक) + तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिलादस्य तनयः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): प्रत्यक्षतया

• श्रीमत्: splendid/glorious
• श्रीमत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular; विशेषण

• शूलवरायुधम्: (him) whose excellent weapon is a trident
• शूलवरायुधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (वरं शूलम् आयुधं यस्य/शूलं वरम् आयुधम्); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विश्वेश्वरगणाध्यक्षम्: the chief of Viśveśvara’s gaṇas
• विश्वेश्वरगणाध्यक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक) + अध्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (विश्वेश्वरस्य गणानाम् अध्यक्षः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विश्वेश्वरम्: the Lord of the universe
• विश्वेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (विश्वस्य ईश्वरः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इव: as if/like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• अपरम्: another/second
• अपरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The epithet Viśveśvara/Viśvanātha evokes Kāśī’s Lord of the Universe; here it is used comparatively—Nandin appears ‘like another Viśveśvara,’ highlighting Śiva’s delegated sovereignty through His gaṇa-leadership.

Significance: Darśana of Viśvanātha is classically linked with mokṣa in Kāśī; the verse’s ‘Viśveśvara’ language resonates with the idea that Śiva’s attendants (gaṇas) mediate His protection and governance for devotees.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Ganas
• Shilada

FAQs

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

The verse exalts Nandin as a direct, radiant manifestation aligned with Śiva’s own lordship—showing that perfect devotion and service to Pati (Śiva) elevates the soul into divine authority within Śiva’s cosmic order.

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

By calling Nandin ‘like another Viśveśvara,’ it highlights Saguna Śiva’s accessible presence through His attendants and emblems; reverence to Nandi is traditionally performed before approaching Śiva’s Liṅga, affirming disciplined entry into Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Approach Śiva with humility by first offering salutations to Nandi, then worship the Liṅga with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while contemplating the trident as mastery over the three impurities/limitations that bind the soul.