Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

Inquiry into Śiva’s Principle and the Parā–Aparā Paradox

Devanagari script

जलंधरासुरो दीर्णश्चक्रीकृत्य जलं पदा । बद्ध्वानंतेन यो विष्णुं चिक्षेप शतयोजनम्

Transliteration

jalaṃdharāsuro dīrṇaścakrīkṛtya jalaṃ padā | baddhvānaṃtena yo viṣṇuṃ cikṣepa śatayojanam

Translation

Asura Jalandhara, membusung oleh keangkuhan, mengacau air dengan kakinya hingga berputar seperti cakera. Lalu, setelah mengikat Viṣṇu dengan Ananta (Śeṣa), dia melemparkan Baginda sejauh seratus yojana.

Word by Word

• जलंधर-असुरः: the demon Jalandhara
• जलंधर-असुरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलंधर (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दीर्णः: torn/cleft
• दीर्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दॄ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘विदीर्ण/भिन्न’ (torn/cleft)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• चक्रि-कृत्य: having made (it) into a discus/whirl
• चक्रि-कृत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चक्रिन्/चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-कृदन्त (gerund), ‘चक्रि/चक्रवत् कृत्वा’ (having made into a discus/whirl)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• पदा: with (his) foot
• पदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘पदेन’ (by the foot) वैदिक/छान्दस रूप

• बद्ध्वा: having bound
• बद्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-कृदन्त (gerund), ‘having bound’

• अनन्तेन: by Ananta (Śeṣa)
• अनन्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; अनन्तः = शेषनागः (Ananta/Śeṣa)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चिक्षेप: threw/cast
• चिक्षेप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• शत-योजनम्: a hundred yojanas (distance)
• शत-योजनम्: Karma (कर्म/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक (measure)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; introduces Jalandhara’s hubris and violence even toward Viṣṇu, setting the stage for Śiva’s eventual intervention in the broader Jalandhara cycle.

Significance: Moral exemplum: asuric ahaṅkāra (pride) and misuse of power are pasha-like bonds leading to ruin; encourages humility and refuge in Pati.

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Jalandhara
• Ananta (Shesha)

FAQs

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

It portrays the limitation of even great cosmic powers when bound by pasha (bondage) and ego-driven force, preparing the narrative ground for the supremacy of Pati (Śiva) as the ultimate liberator beyond all bindings.

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

Such battle episodes highlight that worldly might and even divine roles within creation can be overpowered, while devotion to Saguna Śiva—worshipped as the Liṅga—anchors the seeker in the transcendent Lord who alone grants protection and release.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate humility and seek refuge in Śiva through steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders to overcome pride and bondage.