Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 29

शिवज्ञान-प्रश्नः तथा सृष्टौ शिवस्य स्वयमाविर्भावः

Inquiry into Śiva-knowledge and Śiva’s self-manifestation in creation

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वैवमद्भुताकारं देवा विष्णुपुरोगमाः । बुद्ध्वा दिवाकरं देवं देवीं चैव निशाकरम्

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvaivamadbhutākāraṃ devā viṣṇupurogamāḥ | buddhvā divākaraṃ devaṃ devīṃ caiva niśākaram

Translation

ครั้นเห็นรูปอันอัศจรรย์นั้น เหล่าเทวะโดยมีวิษณุนำหน้าได้รู้แจ้งว่าพระผู้เป็นเจ้าคือทิวากร (สุริยะ) และพระเทวีก็คือนิศากร (จันทรา)

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), ‘having seen’

• एवम्: thus/in this way
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक अव्यय (manner adverb)

• अद्भुताकारम्: of wondrous form
• अद्भुताकारम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of dṛṣṭvā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘wonderful’ + ‘form’); द्वितीया, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (here accusative singular as object of dṛṣṭvā)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (Nominative plural)

• विष्णुपुरोगमाः: led by Viṣṇu
• विष्णुपुरोगमाः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरोगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘having Viṣṇu in front/led by Viṣṇu’); प्रथमा, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषण (qualifies devāḥ)

• बुद्ध्वा: having understood
• बुद्ध्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), ‘having understood/recognized’

• दिवाकरम्: the Sun (Divākara)
• दिवाकरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of buddhvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवाकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (Accusative singular)

• देवम्: as the god
• देवम्: कर्म (Appositional object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (Accusative singular; apposition to divākaram)

• देवीम्: the goddess
• देवीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of buddhvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Accusative singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• निशाकरम्: the Moon (Niśākara)
• निशाकरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; predicate identification)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशाकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (Accusative singular; ‘moon’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: No direct Jyotirliṅga linkage; the verse interprets the theophany cosmologically by mapping Śiva to the Sun and Devī to the Moon.

Significance: Encourages seeing cosmic order (sun/moon cycles) as the sustaining presence (sthiti) of Śiva-Śakti; supports daily worship aligned with natural rhythms.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmic identification: Sun/Moon polarity as a theological reading of the theophany (day/night governance).

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva and Shakti as the cosmic intelligences behind the Sun and Moon—outer symbols of the inner light and mind—guiding the seeker to recognize Pati (Shiva) as the supreme principle manifesting through the universe.

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

The verse supports Saguna contemplation: devotees may worship Shiva as the radiant divine presence (like the Sun) while also understanding that these forms point toward the transcendent Lord indicated by the Linga as the sign of the formless Absolute.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate at sunrise and moonrise, mentally offering the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while contemplating Shiva as inner illumination and Shakti as the soothing lunar grace that steadies the mind.