Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 41

लिङ्गप्रतिष्ठा-माहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of Liṅga Installation

Devanagari script

क्लेशेन महता तूर्णमधस्तादुत्थितो ऽभवत् । समागतावथान्योन्यं विस्मयस्मेरवीक्षणौ

Transliteration

kleśena mahatā tūrṇamadhastādutthito 'bhavat | samāgatāvathānyonyaṃ vismayasmeravīkṣaṇau

Translation

మహా కష్టంతో అతడు త్వరగా క్రిందనుండి పైకి లేచాడు. ఆపై ఇద్దరూ కలుసుకొని, పరస్పరం చూచుకుంటూ వారి నేత్రాల్లో ఆశ్చర్యం మరియు మృదుహాసం మెరిపాయి.

Word by Word

• क्लेशेन: by (great) effort/strain
• क्लेशेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्लेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• महता: great
• महता: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• तूर्णम्: quickly
• तूर्णम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्णम् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अधस्तात्: from below/beneath
• अधस्तात्: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधस्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• उत्थितः: risen/stood up
• उत्थितः: कर्तृविशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे विशेषण

• अभवत्: became/was
• अभवत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• समागतौ: the two came together/arrived
• समागतौ: कर्तृ (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; कर्तरि विशेषण

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/समुच्चयार्थक (then/and then)

• अन्योन्यम्: mutually/each other
• अन्योन्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग; क्रियाविशेषण (reciprocal adverb)

• विस्मय-स्मेर-वीक्षणौ: the two, with astonished smiling looks
• विस्मय-स्मेर-वीक्षणौ: कर्तृविशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मेर (प्रातिपदिक) + वीक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुषः) — विस्मयेन स्मेरं (हासयुक्तं) यत् वीक्षणं तौ

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: After futile searching, Viṣṇu rises and meets Brahmā; their mutual wonder foreshadows the disclosure that the Liṅga is immeasurable and that their rivalry is misplaced.

Significance: Encourages devotees to replace competitive religiosity with shared astonishment and reverence before Śiva’s sign.

FAQs

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

It highlights how embodied effort and struggle (kleśa) culminate in a higher rising, after which the mind becomes softened—capable of meeting reality with wonder rather than agitation, a mood aligned with Shaiva contemplation of Pati (Shiva) beyond bondage.

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

Though the verse is narrative, its inner sense supports Saguna upasana: after striving through impurities and limitation, the devotee approaches the Lord with a softened, amazed gaze—an attitude foundational to reverent Linga-darshana and bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) through difficulty, followed by silent dhyana—resting in a calm, wonder-filled awareness during Shiva-darshana or meditation.