Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

वीरभद्रक्रोधशमनं देवस्तुतिश्च

Pacification of Vīrabhadra and the Gods’ Hymn

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्नवसरे ब्रह्मा भद्रमद्रीन्द्रजानुतम् । सारथ्याल्लब्धवात्सल्यः प्रार्थयन् प्रणतो ऽब्रवीत्

Transliteration

tasminnavasare brahmā bhadramadrīndrajānutam | sārathyāllabdhavātsalyaḥ prārthayan praṇato 'bravīt

Translation

Ngay lúc ấy, Brahmā—nhờ việc làm người đánh xe mà được lòng tin yêu—cúi mình đảnh lễ, rồi kính cẩn khẩn cầu và thưa với bậc cát tường đang quỳ trên chúa tể núi non.

Word by Word

• tasmin: in that
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine (नपुंसक/पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• avasare: occasion/time
• avasare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avasara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (ब्रह्मन्, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhadram: good fortune/auspiciousness
• bhadram: Sambodhana/Prayojana (सम्बोधन/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used as auspicious address/blessing

• adrīndra-jānutam: (one) bowed at the knees to the mountain-lord
• adrīndra-jānutam: Sambodhana/Prayojana (सम्बोधन/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adri (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक) + jānu (प्रातिपदिक) + -ta (त, क्त-कृदन्त from √nam 'to bow' implied)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound sense: 'bowed at the knees to the lord of mountains' (adrīndra = Himālaya)

• sārathyāt: from (his) charioteering/service as charioteer
• sārathyāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sārathya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• labdha-vātsalyaḥ: having obtained affection
• labdha-vātsalyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √labh (लभ्, धातु) + labdha (लब्ध, क्त-कृदन्त) + vātsalya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpurusha: vātsalyaṃ labdhaḥ

• prārthayan: requesting/entreating
• prārthayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + √arth (अर्थ्, धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• praṇataḥ: bowed down
• praṇataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra + √nam (नम्, धातु) + praṇata (प्रणत, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू, धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse frames Brahmā’s supplication as a turning point from wrath to grace.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta mood of approach: even Brahmā gains the right to speak through humility, service, and surrender—showing that grace (anugraha) follows reverent devotion rather than mere status.

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

It reflects Saguna-upasana in practice: the devotee first performs pranama and heartfelt petition before addressing the Lord, mirroring how one approaches the Linga with reverence, service, and prayer to receive Shiva’s compassionate response.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is pranama with bhakti before prayer—begin worship by bowing, then offer a sincere request; this can be paired with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to cultivate the same humility and devotion.