Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 27

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

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

Devanagari script

जिघांसतां सुरारीणां कुलं निर्घृणचेतसाम् । त्रिशूलेनान्धकस्योरः शिखिनैवोपतापितम्

Transliteration

jighāṃsatāṃ surārīṇāṃ kulaṃ nirghṛṇacetasām | triśūlenāndhakasyoraḥ śikhinaivopatāpitam

Translation

Para destruir a raça impiedosa dos inimigos dos deuses que buscavam matar, o peito de Andhaka foi trespassado pelo Triśūla e ficou chamuscado como pelo fogo.

Word by Word

• जिघांसताम्: of those wishing to kill
• जिघांसताम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + सन्-प्रत्यय (इच्छार्थक)
• Form: सन्-प्रत्ययान्त धातुसाधित (Desiderative) वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle) ‘जिघांसत्’ + षष्ठी बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• सुर-अरीणाम्: of the enemies of the gods
• सुर-अरीणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (sura-ari = enemy of the gods); पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• कुलम्: clan, lineage
• कुलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• निर्घृण-चेतसाम्: of the merciless-minded
• निर्घृण-चेतसाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्घृण (प्रातिपदिक) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः (nirghṛṇa-cetas = cruel-hearted); नपुंसकलिङ्ग ‘चेतस्’ (मनस्-गण), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• त्रिशूलेन: with the trident
• त्रिशूलेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• अन्धकस्य: of Andhaka
• अन्धकस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्धक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• उरः: chest
• उरः: कर्म (Karma/Object; patient of action)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• शिखिना: by fire
• शिखिना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle of emphasis)

• उपतापितम्: was scorched/tormented
• उपतापितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; described patient)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु) + उप- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘उरः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Andhaka
• Devas

FAQs

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

Andhaka represents inner darkness—cruelty, ignorance, and violent ego. Shiva’s trident signifies the power of Pati to pierce the bonds (pāśa) and scorch impurities, restoring dharma and opening the way to liberation.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Shiva as the compassionate protector who actively removes adharma. Linga-worship internalizes this: the devotee contemplates Shiva as the purifying presence that burns ignorance and steadies the mind in righteousness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva’s Trishula as the burning of the three impurities (ego, karma, and ignorance) while repeating “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and reinforce purity with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder that all defilements are to be reduced to ash by divine grace.