Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 8

कौशिकी-गौरी तथा शार्दूलरूप-निशाचरस्य पूर्वकर्मवर्णनम् | Kauśikī-Gaurī and Brahmā’s account of the tiger-formed niśācara

Devanagari script

व्याघ्रमात्रेण सन्नेष दुष्टः को ऽपि निशाचरः । अनेन भक्षिता गावो ब्राह्मणाश्च तपोधनाः

Transliteration

vyāghramātreṇa sanneṣa duṣṭaḥ ko 'pi niśācaraḥ | anena bhakṣitā gāvo brāhmaṇāśca tapodhanāḥ

Translation

یہاں کوئی بدکار نِشَچَر محض ببر کے روپ میں چھپا ہوا ہے۔ اسی نے گایوں کو اور تپسیا کے دھن والے برہمنوں کو بھی نگل لیا ہے۔

Word by Word

• vyāghra-mātreṇa: by/with merely (being) a tiger
• vyāghra-mātreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष (अवधारण): ‘only a tiger’/‘mere tiger(-like)’ + instrumental

• sanneṣaḥ: having approached
• sanneṣaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ni-ī (सम् + नि + इ धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; used adjectivally ‘approached/come near’

• duṣṭaḥ: wicked
• duṣṭaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying niśācaraḥ

• kaḥ: who?
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; interrogative pronoun

• api: some/any
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) indicating indefiniteness ‘even/also/any’

• niśācaraḥ: night-roamer (demon)
• niśācaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśācara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• anena: by him/with this one
• anena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• bhakṣitāḥ: were eaten/devoured
• bhakṣitāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhakṣ (भक्ष् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; agrees with gāvaḥ, brāhmaṇāḥ, tapodhanāḥ

• gāvaḥ: cows
• gāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• brāhmaṇāḥ: Brahmins
• brāhmaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• tapodhanāḥ: ascetics rich in austerity
• tapodhanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; बहुव्रीहि: ‘whose wealth is austerity’ (तपो धनं येषाम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins
• Cows
• Niśācara (demon)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights adharma as the violent disruption of sacred order—especially harm to cows and tapas-rich Brahmins—signaling a condition that calls for the restoring power of Pati (Shiva) over pasha-like forces of cruelty and delusion.

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

Such narratives frame Saguna Shiva as the protector of dharma: devotees take refuge in Shiva’s manifest grace (often symbolized by the Linga) when destructive, deceptive forces arise, affirming Shiva as the guardian who removes भय (fear) and restores right order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is protective japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a dharmic resolve (ahiṃsā and protection of the vulnerable); if performed on Mahāśivarātri, it is traditionally paired with simple abhiṣeka and prayer for removal of negative influences.