Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21

शिवज्ञान-प्रश्नः तथा सृष्टौ शिवस्य स्वयमाविर्भावः

Inquiry into Śiva-knowledge and Śiva’s self-manifestation in creation

Devanagari script

हृदि पश्यंति तं देवं ददृशुर्देवपुंगवाः । यामाहुः परमां शक्तिमीश्वरेच्छानुवर्तिनीम्

Transliteration

hṛdi paśyaṃti taṃ devaṃ dadṛśurdevapuṃgavāḥ | yāmāhuḥ paramāṃ śaktimīśvarecchānuvartinīm

Translation

Indem sie jenen Gott im Herzen schauten, erblickten Ihn die Vorzüglichsten unter den Göttern. Und sie erkannten Sie als die höchste Macht, die Para-Śakti—die unfehlbar dem Willen Īśvaras folgt.

Word by Word

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• पश्यन्ति: see
• पश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘tam devam’ apposition

• ददृशुः: saw
• ददृशुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• देव-पुङ्गवाः: the foremost of the gods
• देव-पुङ्गवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + पुङ्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘देवानां पुङ्गवाः’ (best among gods)

• याम्: which/whom
• याम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• आहुः: call/say
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शक्तिम्: power, Śakti
• शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ईश्वर-इच्छा-अनुवर्तिनीम्: following the Lord’s will
• ईश्वर-इच्छा-अनुवर्तिनीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुवर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण — ‘following the will of Īśvara’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva is realized through inner contemplation (seeing Him in the heart), and that His Supreme Śakti operates as the Lord’s own power, inseparable from His will—guiding the soul toward true knowledge and liberation.

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

While Linga-worship gives a sacred, saguna focus for devotion, this verse points to its culmination: the devotee’s inward realization of Shiva within the heart, where His presence is known along with His Śakti that carries out His divine intention.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is heart-centered dhyāna on Shiva—supported by japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and worship that steadies the mind—so the Lord is ‘seen’ inwardly through grace and disciplined meditation.