Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 51

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

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

पुलस्त्यः शशभृन्मौलिः प्रीतिः कांता पिनाकिनः । पुलहस्त्रिपुरध्वंसी तत्प्रिया तु शिवप्रिया

Transliteration

pulastyaḥ śaśabhṛnmauliḥ prītiḥ kāṃtā pinākinaḥ | pulahastripuradhvaṃsī tatpriyā tu śivapriyā

Translation

Pulastya ist als der Herr mit dem Mondschmuck (Candramauḷi) zu erkennen. Prīti ist die geliebte Gemahlin Pinākins (Śivas, des Trägers des Bogens Pināka). Pulaha ist dem Zerstörer Tripuras zugeordnet; und seine Teure ist wahrlich Śiva ergeben—von Śiva geliebt.

Word by Word

• pulastyaḥ: Pulastya
• pulastyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pulastya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• śaśa-bhṛt-mauliḥ: the moon-crested one
• śaśa-bhṛt-mauliḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaśa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhṛt (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + mauli (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; बहुव्रीहि: ‘he whose crest (mauli) bears the hare/moon (śaśabhṛt)’ i.e., moon-crested

• prītiḥ: Prīti
• prītiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• kāntā: beloved (consort)
• kāntā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāntā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; ‘beloved (wife)’

• pinākinaḥ: of Pinākin
• pinākinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pinākin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; ‘of Pinākin (Śiva, bearer of Pināka)’

• pulahaḥ: Pulaha
• pulahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pulaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• tripura-dhvaṃsī: destroyer of Tripura
• tripura-dhvaṃsī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tripura (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaṃsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; तत्पुरुष: tripurasya dhvaṃsī ‘destroyer of Tripura’

• tat-priyā: his beloved
• tat-priyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): tasya priyā ‘his beloved’

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय)

• śiva-priyā: beloved of Śiva
• śiva-priyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): śivasya priyā ‘beloved of Śiva’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it continues the vibhūti-identification by linking Prajāpatis (Pulastya, Pulaha) and their consorts to Śiva’s epithets (moon-crested, Pinākin, Tripuradhvaṃsī).

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Tripura-dahana allusion (cosmic destruction of the three cities)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Pulastya
• Pulaha
• Tripurantaka (Shiva as destroyer of Tripura)

FAQs

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

It highlights that even exalted sages are defined by their connection to Śiva—His marks (moon-crested), His epithets (Pinākin), and His acts (Tripura’s destruction)—teaching that devotion to Pati (Śiva) is the highest identity and refuge.

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

By invoking Śiva through His names and forms (moon-crested, Pinākin, Tripurantaka), the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā—remembering Śiva’s attributes and deeds—which in Purāṇic practice naturally includes Liṅga-worship as His accessible, grace-giving presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Name-remembrance (nāma-smaraṇa) of Śiva—meditating on epithets like Pinākin and Tripurantaka—paired with simple Liṅga-pūjā using bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”