Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7

अग्नीषोमात्मकविश्ववर्णनम् / The Universe as Agni–Soma

Fire and Nectar

Devanagari script

अग्नेरमृतनिष्पत्तिरमृतेनाग्निरेधते । अत एव हि विक्रान्तमग्नीषोमं जगद्धितम्

Transliteration

agneramṛtaniṣpattiramṛtenāgniredhate | ata eva hi vikrāntamagnīṣomaṃ jagaddhitam

Translation

由阿耆尼（Agni）生出甘露（amṛta）；而阿耆尼亦由此甘露得以滋养、增长。故而“阿耆尼—苏摩”（Agnīṣoma）之理——火与苏摩合一——实为雄伟有力，行作于全世界之安乐。

Word by Word

• agneḥ: of fire
• agneḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• amṛta-niṣpattiḥ: the arising of nectar
• amṛta-niṣpattiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + niṣpatti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘production/origin of nectar’

• amṛtena: by/with nectar
• amṛtena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• agniḥ: fire
• agniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• edhate: grows; is nourished
• edhate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: edh (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• ataḥ: therefore; from that
• ataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atas (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय); causal adverb (हेतुवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय); particle (निपात)

• hi: for; indeed
• hi: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय); particle (निपात)

• vikrāntam: mighty; powerful
• vikrāntam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-kram (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत्—क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• agnīṣomam: Agni-and-Soma (the pair)
• agnīṣomam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + soma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); dvandva (द्वन्द्व) ‘Agni and Soma’ (as a pair/principle)

• jagat-hitām: beneficial to the world
• jagat-hitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘beneficial to the world’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya discourse to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Soma

FAQs

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

It teaches the Shaiva idea of mutual support between transformative fire (Agni) and sustaining nectar-like grace (amṛta/Soma): austerity and inner heat must be tempered by divine nourishment, producing a force that benefits both the seeker and the world (jagaddhita).

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

In Linga worship, the devotee offers heat, effort, and purification (Agni) while receiving cooling sanctity and blessing (Soma/amṛta). The balanced Agnīṣoma principle mirrors Saguna Shiva’s role as both purifier and benefactor, stabilizing the cosmos and the devotee’s mind.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditatively cultivate inner Agni through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined breath, then stabilize it with Soma-like coolness through calm dhyāna on Shiva and the application of Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of purification balanced by grace.