Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30

दक्षस्य रुद्रनिन्दा-निमित्तकथनम् / The Cause of Dakṣa’s Censure of Rudra

Devanagari script

आवृत्त्या तां महादेवीमसेवंत समंततः । अतीव शुशुभे तासामंतरे परमेश्वरी

Transliteration

āvṛttyā tāṃ mahādevīmasevaṃta samaṃtataḥ | atīva śuśubhe tāsāmaṃtare parameśvarī

Translation

انہوں نے مہادیوی کو گھیر کر ہر طرف سے اس کی خدمت کی؛ اور ان کے درمیان کھڑی پرمیشوری بے حد درخشاں ہو اُٹھی۔

Word by Word

• आवृत्त्या: by surrounding / by encircling
• आवृत्त्या: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन — Instrumental singular

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• महादेवीम्: the great goddess
• महादेवीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular; कर्मधारय (महती देवी)

• असेवन्त: they attended/served
• असेवन्त: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√सेव् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन — 3pl imperfect; परस्मैपद

• समन्ततः: on all sides
• समन्ततः: देशाधिकरण (Spatial adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — adverb (परितः/‘on all sides’)

• अतीव: exceedingly
• अतीव: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — intensifying adverb

• शुशुभे: shone / was splendid
• शुशुभे: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन — 3sg perfect; आत्मनेपद

• तासाम्: of them (those women)
• तासाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — Genitive plural

• अन्तरे: in the midst
• अन्तरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — Locative singular (अन्तरे = ‘in the midst/within’)

• परमेश्वरी: the Supreme Goddess
• परमेश्वरी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular; कर्मधारय (परमा ईश्वरी)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse depicts Mahādevī’s royal/divine retinue and her central, sovereign radiance (aiśvarya) as she is attended by surrounding attendants.

Significance: General Śakti-Śiva bhakti: contemplating Parameśvarī in the midst of her attendants cultivates śaraṇāgati and receptivity to anugraha (grace).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti expressed as reverent service (sevā) to Mahādevī, indicating that the Divine becomes most radiant when approached with humility and devotion; in Shaiva Siddhanta, honoring Śakti supports the soul’s movement toward Shiva’s grace.

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

The verse reflects Saguna worship—approaching the Divine in a manifest, accessible form. In Shiva Purana practice, devotion to Śiva is inseparable from reverence to his Śakti; such worship matures the devotee for deeper contemplation of the Linga as Shiva’s supreme presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is sevā and upacāra-pūjā: circumambulation, respectful attendance, and focused remembrance. Practically, one may pair this with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and simple offerings (water, bilva) in a spirit of service.