Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 44

रुद्रस्य परमात्मत्वे ब्रह्मपुत्रत्वादिसंशयप्रश्नः — Questions on Rudra’s Supremacy and His ‘Sonship’ to Brahmā

Devanagari script

शक्तिं तयोरपि द्रष्टुमरूपो रूपमास्थितः । प्रसादमतुलं कर्तुं पुरा दत्तवरस्तयोः

Transliteration

śaktiṃ tayorapi draṣṭumarūpo rūpamāsthitaḥ | prasādamatulaṃ kartuṃ purā dattavarastayoḥ

Translation

Damit beide Seine göttliche Śakti schauen konnten, nahm der formlose Herr eine Gestalt an. Um unvergleichliche Gnade zu schenken, offenbarte Er sich so—Er, der ihnen einst schon Gaben verliehen hatte.

Word by Word

• शक्तिम्: power, energy
• शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थे ‘also/even’

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to see’

• अरूपः: formless
• अरूपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक विशेषण ‘formless’

• रूपम्: a form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आस्थितः: having assumed
• आस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having assumed/taken’

• प्रसादम्: grace, favor
• प्रसादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अतुलम्: incomparable
• अतुलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-तुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक विशेषण ‘incomparable’ (प्रसादम् इति विशेष्यस्य)

• कर्तुम्: to bestow/do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to do/make’

• पुरा: formerly, earlier
• पुरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-कालय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• दत्त-वरः: one who had granted a boon
• दत्त-वरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दत्त (कृ-धातु, क्त; कृदन्त) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारयवत् प्रयोगः): ‘दत्तः वरः यस्य’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (अरूपः/सः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• तयोः: to those two / of those two
• तयोः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/प्रति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that the transcendent (arūpa) Shiva is not limited by form; out of compassion (prasāda/anugraha) He can manifest a perceivable form so devotees may directly recognize His Śakti and receive liberating grace.

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

It supports Saguna worship as a merciful self-manifestation of Nirguna Shiva. The Linga and other forms are means of revelation—accessible supports through which the formless Lord allows devotees to “see” His power and presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as both Nirguna and Saguna—worship the Linga with mantra-japa (especially Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while contemplating that the visible form is Shiva’s grace enabling direct inner vision of His Śakti.