Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3

षडध्ववेदनम् (Ṣaḍadhva-vedanam) — The Sixfold Path: Sound, Meaning, and Tattva-Distribution

Devanagari script

प्रकृतेः परिणामो ऽयं द्विधा शब्दार्थभावना । तामाहुः प्राकृतीं मूर्तिं शिवयोः परमात्मनोः

Transliteration

prakṛteḥ pariṇāmo 'yaṃ dvidhā śabdārthabhāvanā | tāmāhuḥ prākṛtīṃ mūrtiṃ śivayoḥ paramātmanoḥ

Translation

Diese Erscheinung ist eine Wandlung der Prakṛti, in zweierlei Weise verstanden — als Klang und als Bedeutung. Die Weisen erklären sie zur natürlichen Gestalt (prākṛtī) der beiden höchsten Selbste, Śiva und Śakti.

Word by Word

• prakṛteḥ: of Prakṛti (nature)
• prakṛteḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana

• pariṇāmaḥ: transformation, modification
• pariṇāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pariṇāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• ayam: this
• ayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• dvidhā: in two ways
• dvidhā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dvidhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of manner (प्रकारवाचक)

• śabda-artha-bhāvanā: the conception of word and meaning
• śabda-artha-bhāvanā: Karta (कर्ता) / Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāvanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa compound

• tām: that (her/it)
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; refers to bhāvanā/mūrtiṃ contextually

• āhuḥ: they say, they call
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह्, धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (लिट्/Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• prākṛtīm: natural, pertaining to Prakṛti
• prākṛtīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prākṛtī (प्रातिपदिक) < prakṛti (प्रकृति)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; adjective qualifying mūrtiṃ

• mūrtim: form, embodiment
• mūrtim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; object of āhuḥ

• śivayoḥ: of the two Śivas
• śivayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī/Dvivacana-form (षष्ठी/द्विवचन) used as genitive dual; ‘of the two Śivas’ (Śiva and Śakti / two aspects)

• paramātmanoḥ: of the two Supreme Selves
• paramātmanoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paramātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Dvivacana; genitive dual in apposition to śivayoḥ

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It frames the manifest cosmos as Prakṛti’s evolution, grasped as both sound (mantra/word) and meaning (inner realization), while affirming that Shiva and Shakti remain the supreme source behind this natural manifestation.

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

Saguna worship approaches the Supreme through form and symbol; this verse supports that approach by describing a “prākṛtī mūrti”—a nature-based manifestation—through which devotees can engage Shiva-Shakti while progressing toward the transcendent (nirguṇa) truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of a Shiva-mantra (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with contemplation of its meaning (śabda-artha), letting sound lead the mind into insight and steadiness in Shiva-consciousness.