Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 42

शिवशक्त्यैक्य-तत्त्वविचारः / Inquiry into the Unity of Śiva and Śakti

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

भास्करो भगवाञ्छंभुः प्रभा भगवती शिवा । महेंद्रो मन्मथारातिः शची शैलेन्द्रकन्यका

Transliteration

bhāskaro bhagavāñchaṃbhuḥ prabhā bhagavatī śivā | maheṃdro manmathārātiḥ śacī śailendrakanyakā

Translation

بهاسكَرا (الشمس) هو بهاگَفان شَمبهو، وإشراقه هو بهاگَفَتي شيفا. وماهِندرا (إندرا) هو عدوّ مَنمَثاراتي (شيفا)، وشَچي هي ابنة سيّد الجبال (الإلهة المولودة من الجبل).

Word by Word

• भास्करः: Bhāskara (Sun)
• भास्करः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भगवान्: blessed; venerable
• भगवान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• शंभुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभुः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रभा: Prabhā (splendour; goddess)
• प्रभा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भगवती: venerable; divine lady
• भगवती: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• शिवा: Śivā
• शिवा: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• महेंद्रः: Mahendra (great Indra)
• महेंद्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मन्मथारातिः: enemy of Manmatha (Kāma)
• मन्मथारातिः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्मथ + अराति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शची: Śacī
• शची: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शैलेन्द्रकन्यका: daughter of the lord of mountains
• शैलेन्द्रकन्यका: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल + इन्द्र + कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shivā (Goddess)
• Surya (Bhāskara)
• Indra (Mahendra)
• Manmatha (Kāma)
• Śacī
• Parvati (Śailendrakanyakā)

FAQs

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

It teaches a Shaiva vision of unity: the powers and gods of the cosmos are expressions of Pati (Śiva) and His Śakti, so devotion matures into recognizing Śiva-Shakti as the inner reality behind all divine functions.

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

By identifying cosmic deities with Śiva and Śivā, the verse supports Saguna upāsanā: worshipping the Liṅga as the universal form in which all divine energies and offices are gathered and transcended.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna-bhāvanā: while japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), contemplate the Sun’s light and all divine powers as Śiva-Śakti, offering that awareness into the Liṅga with bhasma and Rudrākṣa as aids if one follows those observances.