Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

Inquiry into Śiva’s Principle and the Parā–Aparā Paradox

Devanagari script

विश्वरूपं दधद्विष्णुर्दधीचेन महर्षिणा । युध्यता समुपालब्धस्तद्रूपं दधता स्वयम्

Transliteration

viśvarūpaṃ dadhadviṣṇurdadhīcena maharṣiṇā | yudhyatā samupālabdhastadrūpaṃ dadhatā svayam

Translation

Khi Viṣṇu mang lấy hình thái vũ trụ (Viśvarūpa), đại hiền Dadhīci đã chạm trán Ngài trong chiến trận; và chính vị hiền ấy cũng tự khoác lấy hình tướng ấy mà đứng ra đối địch.

Word by Word

• viśvarūpam: the universal form
• viśvarūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva-rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (singular)

• dadhat: bearing/holding
• dadhat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle/शतृ), Parasmaipada sense, Masculine, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; agreeing with viṣṇuḥ

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (singular)

• dadhīcena: by Dadhīci
• dadhīcena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dadhīci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana

• maharṣiṇā: by the great sage
• maharṣiṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd), Ekavacana; apposition to dadhīcena

• yudhyatā: while fighting
• yudhyatā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yudh (धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present middle participle/शानच्), Ātmanepada sense, Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd), Ekavacana; instrumental of attendant circumstance

• samupālabdhaḥ: was obtained/attained
• samupālabdhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-upa-√labh (धातु)
• Form: Bhūta-kṛdanta (past passive participle/क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; predicate of viṣṇuḥ

• tat-rūpam: that form
• tat-rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat-rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• dadhatā: by (one) bearing
• dadhatā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle/शतृ), Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; instrumental, referring to the bearer

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphasis particle/adverb (स्वयम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Dadhichi

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that divine power is not merely a display of form; a purified, disciplined sage can confront even cosmic manifestations through tapas and inner mastery—pointing to Shaiva Siddhanta’s stress on purification of the pashu (bound soul) by right discipline and grace.

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

By showing that even exalted forms like Viśvarūpa are still ‘forms,’ the verse indirectly supports the Shaiva understanding that saguna worship (including Linga-upasana) is a valid, stabilizing means—leading the devotee beyond fascination with appearances toward the Lord who transcends all forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steadfast tapas with mantra-japa and dhyana: daily Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with mental steadiness, supported by Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa, to cultivate inner strength rather than dependence on outward power.