Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 27

Devanagari script

शिवविद्यात्मतत्त्वाख्यं तत्त्वत्रयमुदाहृतम् । शक्तौ शिवस्ततो विद्यात्तस्यास्त्वात्मा समुद्बभौ

Transliteration

śivavidyātmatattvākhyaṃ tattvatrayamudāhṛtam | śaktau śivastato vidyāttasyāstvātmā samudbabhau

Translation

Die Dreiheit der Prinzipien (tattva-traya) wird als „Śiva“, „Vidyā“ und „Ātman“ verkündet. Wisse: Śiva weilt in Śakti; und aus dieser (Śakti) tritt das individuelle Selbst (ātmā) in Erscheinung.

Word by Word

• शिव-विद्या-आत्म-तत्त्व-आख्यम्: called ‘Śiva–Vidyā–Ātman-tattva’
• शिव-विद्या-आत्म-तत्त्व-आख्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + विद्या + आत्मन् + तत्त्व + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘named/known as Śiva, Vidyā, and Ātman-tattva’); तत्त्वत्रयम् इति विशेषणम्

• तत्त्वत्रयम्: the triad of tattvas
• तत्त्वत्रयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (numeral compound)

• उदाहृतम्: has been declared
• उदाहृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + आ + हृ (धातु) → उदाहृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः—‘has been declared/said’

• शक्तौ: in Śakti
• शक्तौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ततः: thereupon; from that
• ततः: Hetu/Apādāna-sense (हेतु/अपादानार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-अर्थे (ablatival adverb)

• विद्यात्: should know
• विद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘should know/one should understand’

• तस्याः: of her (of Śakti)
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘of her/its’ (refers to शक्ति)

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• आत्मा: Self; Ātman
• आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• समुद्बभौ: arose; manifested
• समुद्बभौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उद् + भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘arose/came forth’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmogonic emergence of the individual self (ātmā) through Śakti’s manifestation under Śiva’s lordship.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Atman
• Vidya

FAQs

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

It summarizes a Shaiva Siddhanta-style triad: Śiva (Pati, the Lord), Vidyā (revealing knowledge/grace that removes bondage), and Ātman (the pashu, the individual soul). Liberation is understood as the soul’s awakening through Vidyā to its dependence on Śiva, who is inseparable from Śakti.

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

Linga worship centers on Śiva as the supreme Pati who is ever united with Śakti. By worshiping Saguna Śiva in the Linga—through mantra, pūjā, and contemplation—devotees seek Vidyā (right knowledge and divine grace) that leads the ātmā from manifestation and bondage toward realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva-Śakti as non-different while japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), praying for Vidyā (inner illumination). As a supportive Shaiva discipline, apply tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and maintain mantra-focused awareness of the ātmā’s dependence on Śiva.