Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 34

अवभृथस्नान-तीर्थयात्रा-तेजोदर्शनम् | Avabhṛtha Bath, Tīrtha-Pilgrimage, and the Vision of Divine Radiance

Devanagari script

वाराणस्यां तु युष्माभिर्यद्दृष्टं दिवि दीप्तिमत् । तल्लिंगसंज्ञितं साक्षात्तेजो माहेश्वरं परम्

Transliteration

vārāṇasyāṃ tu yuṣmābhiryaddṛṣṭaṃ divi dīptimat | talliṃgasaṃjñitaṃ sākṣāttejo māheśvaraṃ param

Translation

รัศมีอันสว่างไสวดุจสวรรค์ที่พวกท่านได้เห็น ณ พาราณสี นั่นแลเรียกว่า ‘ลิงคะ’; แท้จริงคือเตชัสอันสูงสุดของพระมหาอีศวรเอง।

Word by Word

• वाराणस्याम्: in Vārāṇasī
• वाराणस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• युष्माभिः: by you (all)
• युष्माभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• यत्: which; what
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रयोगः (relative)

• दृष्टम्: seen
• दृष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘seen’

• दिवि: in heaven; in the sky
• दिवि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘द्यौः’/‘दिव्’ = heaven/sky

• दीप्तिमत्: radiant
• दीप्तिमत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्तिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (possessing radiance)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अन्वय-निर्देशक (that)

• लिङ्ग-संज्ञितम्: called ‘liṅga’
• लिङ्ग-संज्ञितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिङ्ग + संज्ञित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘लिङ्गेन संज्ञितम्’/‘लिङ्ग-संज्ञा यस्य’ (designated as ‘liṅga’)

• साक्षात्: directly; manifestly
• साक्षात्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रत्यक्षार्थक/निश्चयार्थक (adverb: directly; in person)

• तेजः: splendor; divine radiance
• तेजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• माहेश्वरम्: of Maheśvara (Śiva)
• माहेश्वरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माहेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘of Maheśvara (Śiva)’

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘supreme’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The ‘radiant splendour seen at Vārāṇasī’ is identified as liṅga—Śiva’s own supreme tejas. This aligns with Kāśī’s sthala-idea: the liṅga is not merely a symbol but the direct presence of Maheśvara as transcendent light, granting liberation to those who behold it.

Significance: Darśana of the Kāśī liṅga as ‘māheśvara tejas’ is framed as direct encounter with Śiva’s transcendent reality, supporting mokṣa-oriented pilgrimage.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies the Liṅga not merely as a symbol, but as Śiva’s own supreme tejas (divine Light), pointing the devotee from outer vision to inner realization of Pati (the Lord) as the transcendent Reality.

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

The verse teaches that Liṅga-worship is direct worship of Śiva Himself: the visible form (saguṇa support for devotion) reveals the formless supremacy (para-tejas) that the Liṅga signifies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Liṅga-darśana and pūjā while contemplating Śiva as inner Light; japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with steady attention on the luminous presence is the key takeaway.