Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 31

अर्धनारीश्वरप्रादुर्भावः

Manifestation of Ardhanārīśvara and the Impulse for Procreative Creation

Devanagari script

क्व देव ते परं धाम क्व च तुच्छं च नो वचः । तथापि भगवन् भक्त्या प्रलपंतं क्षमस्व माम्

Transliteration

kva deva te paraṃ dhāma kva ca tucchaṃ ca no vacaḥ | tathāpi bhagavan bhaktyā pralapaṃtaṃ kṣamasva mām

Translation

يا ديفا، أين مقامُك الأسمى، وأين كلماتُنا الحقيرة؟ ومع ذلك، يا بهاجافان، اغفر لي أنا الذي أُكثر الكلام—لا أنطق إلا بدافع المحبة التعبدية.

Word by Word

• क्व: where
• क्व: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रश्न-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: “where?”)

• देव: O god
• देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (genitive: “your”)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying धाम)

• धाम: abode
• धाम: Karta (कर्ता/उद्देश्य-विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• क्व: where
• क्व: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रश्न-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction: “and”)

• तुच्छम्: paltry
• तुच्छम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुच्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying वचः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नः: our
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (genitive: “our”)

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karta (कर्ता/उद्देश्य-विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• तथापि: even so
• तथापि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-समुच्चय (concessive adverb: “even so/however”)

• भगवन्: O Lord
• भगवन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrumental: “by/with devotion”)

• प्रलपन्तम्: (me) speaking
• प्रलपन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + लप् (धातु) → प्रलपन्त् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; “speaking/babbling” (object of क्षमस्व)

• क्षमस्व: forgive
• क्षमस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षम (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

A devotee-narrator within Suta’s Vāyavīyasaṃhitā discourse (supplicatory address to Lord Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A humility (dainya) verse: the finite speech of the bound soul contrasted with the Lord’s supreme dhāma; not tied to a jyotirliṅga locale.

Significance: Models bhakti as self-effacing surrender: acknowledging the inadequacy of words and seeking forgiveness—an inner pilgrimage of humility that invites anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It expresses the Shaiva Siddhanta mood of humility: Shiva (Pati) is infinite and transcendent, while the bound soul’s words are limited; devotion and surrender become the bridge, and the devotee seeks forgiveness for inadequacy.

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee to approach the immeasurable Supreme through a tangible focus; this verse frames that approach—acknowledging Shiva’s transcendence while offering heartfelt bhakti and asking pardon for imperfect praise.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is repentance-filled japa—especially the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—followed by a short kṣamā-prārthanā (prayer for forgiveness) during daily Linga-pūjā, with a calm, surrendered mind.