Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 89

लिङ्गप्रतिष्ठा-माहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of Liṅga Installation

Devanagari script

वारिशय्यागतो विष्णुः सुष्वापानाकुलः सुखम् । ५

Transliteration

vāriśayyāgato viṣṇuḥ suṣvāpānākulaḥ sukham | 5

Translation

ครั้นเสด็จไปยังแท่นบรรทมเหนือสายน้ำ พระวิษณุก็บรรทมอย่างเป็นสุข ปราศจากความรบกวนใดๆ

Word by Word

• वारि-शय्या-गतः: gone to the watery couch (ocean-bed)
• वारि-शय्या-गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक) + शय्या (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: ‘वारिशय्यायाम् गतः’)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सुष्वाप: slept
• सुष्वाप: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अनाकुलः: untroubled, undisturbed
• अनाकुलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनाकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सुखम्: comfortably, happily
• सुखम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग (accusative used adverbially), क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmic waters motif (pralaya/causal ocean imagery)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse highlights a state of unagitated repose—an image of laya (dissolution into rest). From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, true freedom from disturbance is ultimately grounded in Pati (Shiva), the supreme stabilizing principle behind cosmic order and inner peace.

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

Though the verse names Viṣṇu, the Vāyavīya section often frames cosmic functions as operating under Shiva’s transcendent lordship. Linga/Saguna Shiva worship trains the mind toward steadiness (śānti) so the devotee moves from agitation to the undisturbed state symbolized here.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is cultivating inner stillness through japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and dhyāna on Shiva as the शांत (peaceful) Lord—reducing mental agitation (ākulatā) toward an undisturbed, sattvic rest.