Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 36

सत्याः पुनस्तपश्चर्या — Satī’s Return to Austerity (Tapas) and Fearless Liṅga-Worship

Devanagari script

निशुंभशुंभनामानौ दैत्यौ दत्तवरौ मया । दृप्तौ देवान्प्रबाधेते त्वत्तो लब्धस्तयोर्वधः

Transliteration

niśuṃbhaśuṃbhanāmānau daityau dattavarau mayā | dṛptau devānprabādhete tvatto labdhastayorvadhaḥ

Translation

ନିଶୁମ୍ଭ ଓ ଶୁମ୍ଭ ନାମର ଦୁଇ ଦୈତ୍ୟ—ମୋ ଦ୍ୱାରା ବର ପାଇ—ଦର୍ପିତ ହୋଇ ଦେବମାନଙ୍କୁ ପୀଡ଼ା ଦେଉଛନ୍ତି। କିନ୍ତୁ ତାଙ୍କର ବଧ ତୁମଠାରୁ ହିଁ ଲଭ୍ୟ; ତୁମ ଦ୍ୱାରା ହିଁ ତାଙ୍କର ନାଶ ହେବ।

Word by Word

• निशुम्भ-शुम्भ-नामानौ: named Niśumbha and Śumbha
• निशुम्भ-शुम्भ-नामानौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + शुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; बहुनाम-तत्पुरुषः (नाम-सम्बन्धे): ‘having the names Niśumbha and Śumbha’

• दैत्यौ: two demons
• दैत्यौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• दत्त-वरौ: endowed with boons
• दत्त-वरौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; कर्मधारयः: ‘boons-given (to them)’ / ‘endowed with boons’

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृप्तौ: arrogant
• दृप्तौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifies दैत्यौ)

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• प्रबाधेते: they harass/oppress
• प्रबाधेते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + बाध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन; आत्मनेपद

• त्वत्तः: from you
• त्वत्तः: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम — ‘from you’

• लब्धः: obtained/secured
• लब्धः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वधः-विशेषण (qualifies ‘slaying’)

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• वधः: slaying/killing
• वधः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Caṇḍikā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Niśumbha
• Śumbha
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights that boons cannot override dharma: pride-born oppression becomes a pāśa (bondage) that inevitably meets its end, and the final resolution rests with the supreme divine will—Pati—who restores cosmic order.

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

The verse points to the need for a supreme refuge beyond all granted powers; in Shiva Purana devotion, that refuge is Saguna Shiva (often approached through the Linga), the accessible form through which divine grace intervenes to remove suffering and uphold dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) through japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness and humility, antidotes to darpa (pride).