Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40

मन्दरगिरिवर्णनम् — Description of Mount Mandara as Śiva’s Residence

Tapas-abode

Devanagari script

तथा प्रणयभंगेन भीतो भूतपतिः स्वयम् । पादयोः प्रणमन्नेव भवानीं प्रत्यभाषत

Transliteration

tathā praṇayabhaṃgena bhīto bhūtapatiḥ svayam | pādayoḥ praṇamanneva bhavānīṃ pratyabhāṣata

Translation

Demikianlah, kerana takut akan retaknya kesepakatan kasih mereka, Bhūtapati (Dewa Śiva) sendiri—sambil bersujud di kaki Bhavānī—berkata kepadanya.

Word by Word

• tathā: thus / then
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• praṇaya-bhaṃgena: by/through the breaking of affection
• praṇaya-bhaṃgena: Karaṇa/Hetu (करणम्/हेतुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇaya (प्रातिपदिक) + bhaṃga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (तत्पुरुष): ‘breach of affection’; Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• bhītaḥ: afraid
• bhītaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier of bhūtapatiḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīta (√bhī धातु, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• bhūta-patiḥ: the Lord of beings (Śiva)
• bhūta-patiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound: ‘lord of beings/spirits’; Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic adverb (स्वयम्-प्रयोगः)

• pādayoḥ: at (her) feet
• pādayoḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual (द्विवचन)

• praṇaman: bowing
• praṇaman: Karta (कर्ता) (participial qualifier of bhūtapatiḥ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘bowing’

• eva: indeed / just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic particle (निपात)

• bhavānīm: Bhavānī (Pārvatī)
• bhavānīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavānī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• pratyabhāṣata: addressed / spoke to
• pratyabhāṣata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person, Singular, Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā account)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s divine humility: even the Pati (Lord) models reverence and self-restraint to preserve dharmic love, teaching that spiritual authority is perfected by compassion and surrender rather than ego.

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

As Saguna Śiva, the Lord demonstrates accessible conduct (ācāra) for devotees—humility, reconciliation, and devotion—showing that Linga-worship is not only ritual but also inner transformation toward Śiva-like virtues.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice namaskāra (prostration) with bhāva (devotional feeling) and cultivate kṣamā (forgiveness); in japa, pair “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with an inner act of surrender to dissolve pride and restore harmony.