Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14

परस्य दुर्‍निर्णयः—षट्कुलीयमुनिविवादः तथा ब्रह्मदर्शनार्थं मेरुप्रयाणम् | The Dispute of the Six-Lineage Sages on the Supreme and Their Journey to Brahmā at Meru

Devanagari script

प्रसन्नवदनं सौम्यं पद्मपत्रायतेक्षणम् । दिव्यकांतिसमायुक्तं दिव्यगंधानुलेपनम्

Transliteration

prasannavadanaṃ saumyaṃ padmapatrāyatekṣaṇam | divyakāṃtisamāyuktaṃ divyagaṃdhānulepanam

Translation

祂面容安然含笑，温和而吉祥，双目如莲瓣；身具神圣光辉，并以天界妙香涂抹熏染。

Word by Word

• प्रसन्न: serene
• प्रसन्न: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (कृदन्त; √सद् धातु with प्र-)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), समासाङ्ग; ‘clear/serene’

• वदनम्: face
• वदनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; head of compound

• सौम्यम्: gentle, pleasing
• सौम्यम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• पद्म: lotus
• पद्म: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• पत्र: leaf, petal
• पत्र: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• आयत: elongated
• आयत: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयत (कृदन्त; √यम् धातु with आ-)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), समासाङ्ग; ‘elongated/extended’

• ईक्षणम्: eyes, gaze
• ईक्षणम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘eyes/looking’

• दिव्य: divine
• दिव्य: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; ‘divine’

• कान्ति: splendour, radiance
• कान्ति: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग

• समायुक्तम्: endowed with
• समायुक्तम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समायुक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु with सम्+आ-)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘endowed/connected with’

• दिव्य: divine
• दिव्य: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• गन्ध: fragrance
• गन्ध: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• अनुलेपनम्: anointing, unguent
• अनुलेपनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुलेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘anointing/unguent’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse directs the mind to Shiva’s auspicious, compassionate Saguna form—serene face, lotus-like eyes, and divine radiance—supporting bhakti and dhyāna that purify the pashu (bound soul) and turn it toward Pati (the Lord).

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

While the Liṅga points to the formless (nirguṇa) reality, this description affirms Saguna Shiva for devotional meditation—visualizing the Lord’s pleasing countenance and splendor as an aid to steady worship and inner absorption.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice dhyāna: after applying vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and offering fragrance to the Liṅga, meditate on Shiva’s calm, radiant form while softly repeating the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”