Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 28

दक्षस्य यज्ञप्रवृत्तिः तथा ईश्वरवर्जितदेवसमागमः

Dakṣa’s Sacrificial Undertaking and the Devas’ Assembly without Īśvara

Devanagari script

विद्युज्जिह्वं प्रलंबोष्ठं मेघसागरनिःस्वनम् । वसानं चर्म वैयाघ्रं महद्रुधिरनिस्रवम्

Transliteration

vidyujjihvaṃ pralaṃboṣṭhaṃ meghasāgaraniḥsvanam | vasānaṃ carma vaiyāghraṃ mahadrudhiranisravam

Translation

“（彼）舌如闪电，唇垂而长，声若大海与雷云轰鸣；披虎皮衣，鲜血汩汩，奔流不息。”

Word by Word

• विद्युज्जिह्वम्: having a lightning-like tongue
• विद्युज्जिह्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्युत्+जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (विद्युत् इव जिह्वा यस्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (describing the deity)

• प्रलम्बोष्ठम्: having hanging/protruding lips
• प्रलम्बोष्ठम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र+लम्ब+ओष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (प्रलम्बौ ओष्ठौ यस्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मेघसागरनिःस्वनम्: having a roar like clouds and ocean
• मेघसागरनिःस्वनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघ+सागर+निःस्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (मेघसागरयोः इव निःस्वनः यस्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वसानम्: wearing
• वसानम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त; शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त (present middle participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चर्म: a hide/skin
• चर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• वैयाघ्रम्: tiger(-skin)
• वैयाघ्रम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैयाघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (चर्मणः)

• महत्: great/much
• महत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (रुधिरस्य)

• रुधिरनिस्रवम्: from which blood flows
• रुधिरनिस्रवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुधिर+निस्रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (रुधिरं निस्रवति यस्मात्/यस्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays Rudra’s awe-inspiring, fear-transcending form: the devotee learns that even terrifying appearances are expressions of Shiva’s sovereign power, meant to dissolve ego, fear, and attachment, leading the pashu toward the Pati.

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

Such vivid attributes belong to Saguna Shiva—meditated upon for focus and inner purification—while the Linga ultimately signifies Shiva beyond all forms; the verse supports form-based contemplation that culminates in realizing the formless Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Rudra-dhyana with steady breath and japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), optionally wearing Rudraksha and applying Tripundra, contemplating that Shiva’s roar and power burn impurities and protect the devotee.