Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3

योगाचार्यरूपेण शर्वावताराः (Śarva’s manifestations as Yoga-Teachers)

Devanagari script

दधिवाहश्च ऋषभो मुनिरुग्रो ऽत्रिरेव च । सुपालको गौतमश्च तथा वेदशिरा मुनिः

Transliteration

dadhivāhaśca ṛṣabho munirugro 'trireva ca | supālako gautamaśca tathā vedaśirā muniḥ

Translation

ดธิวาหะ ฤษภะ ฤๅษีอุคระ และอัตริ; อีกทั้งสุปาลกะ โคตมะ และฤๅษีเวทศิระ—ท่านเหล่านี้ก็ถูกเอ่ยนามไว้ ณ ที่นี้

Word by Word

• दधिवाहः: Dadhivāha
• दधिवाहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधिवाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ऋषभः: Ṛṣabha
• ऋषभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नाम

• मुनिः: sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• उग्रः: fierce
• उग्रः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (appositional)

• अत्रिः: Atri
• अत्रिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नाम

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सुपालकः: Supālaka
• सुपालकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुपालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नाम

• गौतमः: Gautama
• गौतमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चयार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb/conjunctive)

• वेदशिराः: Vedaśiras
• वेदशिराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदशिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नाम; प्रातिपदिक ‘वेदशिरस्’ (s-ending stem)

• मुनिः: sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Dadhivāha
• Ṛṣabha
• Ugra
• Atri
• Supālaka
• Gautama
• Vedaśiras

FAQs

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

The verse preserves the memory of realized seers who embody dharma and Shaiva insight; in Shaiva Siddhanta, such rishis represent purified paśu (the bound soul) moving toward Shiva (Pati) through right knowledge and disciplined conduct.

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

By naming authoritative sages within the narrative, the text anchors Shaiva worship (including Linga-upasana) in a transmitted tradition—worship is not merely personal preference but a received path upheld by rishis devoted to Shiva’s saguna and transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

While no single rite is stated, the implied takeaway is to follow rishi-led Shaiva discipline: daily remembrance of Shiva with the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and maintaining purity and restraint as the foundation for worship.