Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30

द्वितीयतृतीयावरणपूजाक्रमः | The Sequence of the Second and Third Enclosure Worship (Āvaraṇa-pūjā)

Devanagari script

बोधनी पश्चिमे भागे आप्यायिन्युत्तरे पुनः । उषां प्रभां तथा प्राज्ञां सन्ध्यामपि ततः परम्

Transliteration

bodhanī paścime bhāge āpyāyinyuttare punaḥ | uṣāṃ prabhāṃ tathā prājñāṃ sandhyāmapi tataḥ param

Translation

В западной стороне пребывает сила, именуемая Бодханī; и вновь, в северной стороне — Āпйāйинī. Затем следуют Уṣā, Прабхā и также Прāджñā; а далее, за ними, пребывает и Сандхьā.

Word by Word

• bodhanī: Bodhanī (a deity/śakti-name)
• bodhanī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bodhanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; नाम (feminine nominative/accusative singular)

• paścime: in the western
• paścime: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paścima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; विशेषण (locative singular: ‘in the western’)

• bhāge: in the part/section
• bhāge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक (locative singular)

• āpyāyinī: Āpyāyinī (a deity/śakti-name)
• āpyāyinī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āpyāyinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; नाम (feminine nominative/accusative singular)

• uttare: in the northern
• uttare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; विशेषण (locative singular: ‘in the northern’)

• punaḥ: again; further
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/क्रमसूचक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb: again/further)

• uṣām: Uṣā (Dawn)
• uṣām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मपद (accusative singular)

• prabhām: Prabhā (Radiance)
• prabhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मपद (accusative singular)

• tathā: likewise; also
• tathā: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक (indeclinable: likewise/and so)

• prājñām: Prājñā (Wisdom/Intelligence; a śakti-name)
• prājñām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मपद (accusative singular)

• sandhyām: Sandhyā (Twilight; a śakti-name)
• sandhyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मपद (accusative singular)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (indeclinable particle: also/even)

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय/तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-अर्थे (indeclinable: then/thereafter/from that)

• param: next; further
• param: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; ‘परम्’ क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverbial use: further/next)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Bodhanī
• Āpyāyinī
• Uṣā
• Prabhā
• Prājñā
• Sandhyā

FAQs

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

It lists personified spiritual powers (śaktis) aligned with directions—awakening, nourishment, dawn-like clarity, radiance, discriminative wisdom, and the transformative “junction” (sandhyā). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, these indicate progressive inner refinements by which the bound soul (paśu) is prepared to receive Shiva’s grace (pati-anugraha) and move beyond bondage (pāśa).

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

Such directional/functional śaktis are contemplated around Shiva’s sacred presence (often the Linga) as emanations of Saguna Shiva’s order and light. The devotee worships Shiva as the source of awakening and wisdom, while understanding these powers as dependent on Him—not independent deities.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sandhyā-upāsanā: meditating at dawn and twilight on Shiva as the inner light (prabhā) that awakens (bodhanī) and nourishes (āpyāyinī) discernment (prājñā), supported by japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady breath-awareness.