Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 57

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

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

द्रष्टव्यं वस्तुरूपं तु बिभर्ति वक्तवल्लभा । द्रष्टा विश्वेश्वरो देवः शशिखंडशिखामणिः

Transliteration

draṣṭavyaṃ vasturūpaṃ tu bibharti vaktavallabhā | draṣṭā viśveśvaro devaḥ śaśikhaṃḍaśikhāmaṇiḥ

Translation

Die Geliebte des Sprechers (Śakti) nimmt die Gestalt des wahrzunehmenden Gegenstandes an. Doch der wahre Seher ist Viśveśvara, der Herr des Universums, dessen Scheitel der Mond wie ein Juwel schmückt.

Word by Word

• द्रष्टव्यम्: to be seen / visible
• द्रष्टव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रष्टव्य (कृदन्त; √दृश् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (gerundive/future passive participle: ‘to be seen’)

• वस्तु-रूपम्: the form of the thing/reality
• वस्तु-रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्तु (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वस्तुनः रूपम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ (‘but/indeed’)

• बिभर्ति: bears/holds
• बिभर्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• वक्तृ-वल्लभा: the beloved of the speaker
• वक्तृ-वल्लभा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक) + वल्लभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वक्तुः वल्लभा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• द्रष्टा: the seer
• द्रष्टा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रष्टृ (कृदन्त; √दृश् धातु)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक-नाम (agent noun); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विश्व-ईश्वरः: Lord of the universe
• विश्व-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विश्वस्य ईश्वरः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शशि-खण्ड-शिखा-मणिः: the jewel on the crest bearing a piece of the moon
• शशि-खण्ड-शिखा-मणिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशि (प्रातिपदिक) + खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + शिखा (प्रातिपदिक) + मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (शशिखण्डस्य शिखायां मणिः/शिखामणिः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: By naming Viśveśvara, the verse naturally evokes Kāśī’s Viśvanātha: Śiva as Lord of the universe and ultimate Seer; Kāśī is famed as the place where Śiva grants liberation-teaching (tāraka) at death.

Significance: Darśana of Viśvanātha is held to purify perception itself; the teaching here frames all ‘seen objects’ as Śakti’s assumed forms, while the true Seer is Śiva—supporting liberating discernment (viveka) and grace.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti (Devi)

FAQs

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

It distinguishes the changing ‘seen’ (experienced objects and forms manifested through Śakti) from the unchanging ‘Seer’—Shiva as Viśveśvara, the supreme witness-consciousness (Pati) who grants liberation when recognized as one’s true Self.

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

The verse supports Saguna upāsanā by pointing to Shiva’s recognizable form (Chandrashekhara, the moon-crested Lord) while teaching that the Linga ultimately signifies the inner Seer beyond all perceived forms, guiding the devotee from form to transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the ‘Drashta’ (witness) while offering worship to the moon-crested Shiva (Chandrashekhara/Viśveśvara); repeat Om Namaḥ Śivāya with the contemplation: “All that is seen changes; Shiva alone is the Seer.”