Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 45

शिवज्ञान-प्रश्नः तथा सृष्टौ शिवस्य स्वयमाविर्भावः

Inquiry into Śiva-knowledge and Śiva’s self-manifestation in creation

Devanagari script

सारस्वतस्त्रिधामा च त्रिवृतो मुनिपुंगवः । शततेजास्स्वयं धर्मो नारायण इति श्रुतः

Transliteration

sārasvatastridhāmā ca trivṛto munipuṃgavaḥ | śatatejāssvayaṃ dharmo nārāyaṇa iti śrutaḥ

Translation

祂被称为萨拉斯瓦塔（Sārasvata）、三住处者（Tridhāman）、三重者（Trivṛta）——为圣贤之最；又以百光辉者（Śatatejas）著称，乃法（Dharma）之亲身化现，并亦闻其名为那罗延那（Nārāyaṇa）。

Word by Word

• sārasvataḥ: Sārasvata (name)
• sārasvataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sārasvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tridhāmā: one having three abodes/splendours
• tridhāmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + dhāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Bahuvrīhi ‘yasya trīṇi dhāmāni’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• trivṛtaḥ: one surrounded by three
• trivṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛta (कृदन्त, √vṛ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; Bahuvrīhi ‘tribhiḥ vṛtaḥ’ (surrounded by three)

• muni-puṃgavaḥ: best of sages
• muni-puṃgavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + puṃgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; Tatpuruṣa ‘munīnām puṃgavaḥ’

• śata-tejāḥ: one of hundredfold splendour
• śata-tejāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; Bahuvrīhi ‘yasya śataṃ tejāṃsi/tejaḥ’ (having hundredfold radiance)

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb

• dharmaḥ: Dharma (righteousness/personified)
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• nārāyaṇaḥ: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• śrutaḥ: is known/heard (as)
• śrutaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kridanta past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; used predicatively ‘is heard/known as’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Dharma

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that a single exalted divine principle may be praised through many revered names—Dharma, brilliance, sagehood, and even Nārāyaṇa—showing that true righteousness and inner luminosity ultimately support realization of the Supreme (Pati) taught in the Vāyavīya discourse.

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

By honoring Dharma as a living divine presence, the devotee becomes fit for Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-upāsanā): purity, truthfulness, and disciplined conduct are presented as the ground on which Shiva-bhakti becomes steady and fruitful.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt dhārmic discipline alongside Shiva practice: daily japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a sattvic life, and contemplative remembrance that divine qualities (tejas, dharma) are to be embodied, not merely praised.