Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 87

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

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

भक्तिः पराः शिवे साम्बे सानुगे सपरिच्छिदे । यद्यदिष्टतमं चान्यत्तत्तदाप्नोत्यसंशयम्

Transliteration

bhaktiḥ parāḥ śive sāmbe sānuge saparicchide | yadyadiṣṭatamaṃ cānyattattadāpnotyasaṃśayam

Translation

Höchste Bhakti zu Śiva — zusammen mit Ambā (Umā) — zum Herrn, der von Seinen Gefolgsleuten begleitet und mit göttlichen Eigenschaften ausgestattet ist, gewährt dem Verehrer unfehlbar, was er am meisten begehrt; daran besteht kein Zweifel.

Word by Word

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पराः: supreme
• पराः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; पाठे 'पराः'—अर्थतः 'परमा' (intended as 'supreme'); (agreement irregular/poetic)

• शिवे: in Śiva
• शिवे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• साम्बे: with Ambā (Umā)
• साम्बे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'with Ambā (Umā)'

• सानुगे: with attendants
• सानुगे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सानुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'with followers/attendants'

• स-परिच्छिदे: with entourage/retinue
• स-परिच्छिदे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग-सदृश/अव्यय) + परिच्छिद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (सहितः परिच्छिदः), पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'with retinue/possessions'

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; correlative with तत्

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; repetition for emphasis

• इष्टतमम्: most desired
• इष्टतमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त from √इष्) + तमप् (superlative)
• Form: विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'most desired'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (समुच्चय-अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अन्यत्: anything else
• अन्यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'anything else'

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; correlative to यत्

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; repetition for emphasis

• आप्नोति: attains
• आप्नोति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• असंशयम्: without doubt
• असंशयम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: असंशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; 'without doubt'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes devotion to Śiva ‘with Umā’ (Sāmba/Umāpati), highlighting grace that grants both bhukti (desired attainments) and the higher trajectory toward mukti when desire is sublimated into bhakti.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that parā-bhakti (supreme devotion) to Pati—Śiva, inseparable from Umā—becomes a direct means to grace, by which both worldly aims and higher spiritual attainments are fulfilled through the Lord’s compassionate bestowal.

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

By describing Śiva as “with attributes” and “with attendants,” the verse supports saguṇa-upāsanā—worship of the manifest Lord (including Śiva-liṅga worship) where the devotee approaches Śiva with form and qualities, receiving tangible fruits and, ultimately, upliftment toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steady bhakti expressed through daily Śiva-pūjā—especially liṅga-archanā with mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—offered with devotion to Śiva together with Umā, seeking grace rather than mere transaction.