Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14

स्कन्दसरः (Skandasara) — तीर्थवर्णनम् / Description of the Skandasara Sacred Lake

Devanagari script

क्वचित्पीतजनोत्तीर्णमयूरवरवारणम् । क्वचित्कृततटाघातवृषप्रतिवृषोज्ज्वलम्

Transliteration

kvacitpītajanottīrṇamayūravaravāraṇam | kvacitkṛtataṭāghātavṛṣaprativṛṣojjvalam

Translation

บางแห่งปรากฏดุจช้างเอกอันประเสริฐประหนึ่งนกยูง มีผู้ติดตามนุ่งห่มสีเหลืองขึ้นขี่; บางแห่งส่องประกายดุจโคอุสุภะมหากำลังเข้ากระแทกตลิ่ง ลุกโชติช่วงด้วยฤทธิ์โคประจันโค

Word by Word

• क्वचित्: somewhere
• क्वचित्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/काल-वाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'somewhere/at some time')

• पीत-जन-उत्तीर्ण-मयूर-वर-वारणम्: a splendid elephant (or one like an elephant) with excellent peacocks, crossed/covered by yellowish people
• पीत-जन-उत्तीर्ण-मयूर-वर-वारणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (√पा, कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तीर्ण (उद्-√तॄ, कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + मयूर (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक) + वारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (विशेषणसमूहः) — 'पीतजनैः उत्तीर्णः' इति भावः, 'मयूर-वर-वारण' इति विशेष्यसम्बन्धः

• क्वचित्: elsewhere
• क्वचित्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/काल-वाचक अव्यय

• कृत-तट-आघात-वृष-प्रति-वृष-उज्ज्वलम्: bright with bulls and counter-bulls, with banks struck/formed (by impact on the shore)
• कृत-तट-आघात-वृष-प्रति-वृष-उज्ज्वलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (√कृ, कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + तट (प्रातिपदिक) + आघात (प्रातिपदिक) + वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रति (अव्यय/उपसर्गभाव) + वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः — 'कृतः तटाघातः' (कर्मधारय-भावः) तथा 'वृषप्रतिवृष' (प्रतियोगि-तत्पुरुषः: वृषस्य प्रतिवृषः) इत्यादि

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse functions as a poetic, multi-form (aneka-rūpa) description of a sacred landscape/manifestation, typical of Purāṇic tīrtha- and vana-varṇana.

Significance: Evokes the sense that Śiva’s presence can be intuited through auspicious, powerful natural signs; supports the Siddhānta idea that the Lord pervades and ‘veils/reveals’ Himself through māyā’s forms.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s freedom to manifest in many awe-inspiring forms; the devotee learns to recognize the one Pati (Lord) shining through changing appearances and powers.

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

Like the Linga that represents the One beyond form, these vivid forms (elephant, bull) are Saguna revelations that steady devotion and lead the mind toward the formless truth they signify.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the single Lord behind all forms while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), using Tripuṇḍra and Rudrāksha as aids to steadiness and reverence.