Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 2

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

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

अथैतज्ज्ञातुमिच्छामि याथात्म्यं पमेशयोः । स्त्रीपुंभावात्मकं चेदं ताभ्यां कथमधिष्ठितम्

Transliteration

athaitajjñātumicchāmi yāthātmyaṃ pameśayoḥ | strīpuṃbhāvātmakaṃ cedaṃ tābhyāṃ kathamadhiṣṭhitam

Translation

Nun wünsche ich die wahre Wesensnatur des höchsten Herrn und der höchsten Göttin zu erkennen. Wenn dieses Universum aus dem weiblichen und dem männlichen Prinzip besteht, wie wird es dann von diesen beiden regiert und getragen?

Word by Word

• अथ: now/then
• अथ: Avyaya (अव्यय/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, आरम्भ/अनन्तर (particle: 'now/then')

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ज्ञातुम्: to know
• ज्ञातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Infinitive purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; अर्थः—'to know'

• इच्छामि: I wish/desire
• इच्छामि: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• याथात्म्यम्: true nature/real essence
• याथात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याथात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• परमेशयोः: of the two Supreme Lords (Śiva and Śakti)
• परमेशयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ईश (प्रातिपदिक; परमेश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (परमः ईशः)

• स्त्री-पुं-भाव-आत्मकम्: having the nature of female-and-male
• स्त्री-पुं-भाव-आत्मकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्री + पुंस् + भाव + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (स्त्रीपुंभावः आत्मा यस्य/यत्)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• इदम्: this (world/principle)
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ताभ्याम्: by those two
• ताभ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Avyaya (अव्यय/Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नाव्यय (interrogative adverb: 'how')

• अधिष्ठितम्: is governed/overseen
• अधिष्ठितम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधि-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थः—'governed/overseen/established'

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the philosophical inquiry within the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse frames a core Shaiva Siddhanta inquiry: the universe appears as duality (male–female, Śiva–Śakti), yet its deepest truth is the supreme governance of Pati (Śiva) through His inseparable power (Śakti), guiding beings toward liberation.

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

Linga worship contemplates Śiva as the transcendent Lord (beyond form) who is still accessible through sacred form; this verse points to that same principle—Parameśvara is realized along with Parameśvarī, the dynamic power by which creation and grace operate.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on the non-separation of Śiva and Śakti while japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), supported by Shaiva disciplines like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to steady devotion and insight.