Shloka 29

Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

एकत्रैव शिवश्शक्तिरिति भावो विधीयते । तैलवर्त्त्यादिमालिन्यात्प्रकाशस्यापि वर्त्तते

Transliteration

ekatraiva śivaśśaktiriti bhāvo vidhīyate | tailavarttyādimālinyātprakāśasyāpi varttate

Translation

It is affirmed that Śiva and Śakti are together as one reality. Yet, because of impurities such as oil and the wick, even the light (that should shine unobstructed) is seen to behave differently, as though limited or affected.

Word by Word

• ekatra: in one place / together
• ekatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ekatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (locative adverb: in one place)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphasis)

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• śaktiḥ: Power (Śakti)
• śaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)

• iti: thus
• iti: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, इत्यर्थ (quotative)

• bhāvaḥ: the idea/doctrine
• bhāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• vidhīyate: is prescribed/laid down
• vidhīyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√dhā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि प्रयोग (Laṭ, 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada; passive)

• taila-vartī-ādi-mālīnyāt: due to impurity of oil, wick, etc.
• taila-vartī-ādi-mālīnyāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: taila (प्रातिपदिक) + vartī (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + mālinya (प्रातिपदिक) + -tas (तसिल्)
• Form: समाससमूहः (taila-vartī-ādi = oil, wick, etc.; mālinya = impurity); तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'due to/from impurity')

• prakāśasya: of the light/illumination
• prakāśasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Singular)

• api: also
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपि-कार (also/even)

• vartate: occurs/exists/continues
• vartate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (Laṭ, 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching in the Kailāsa-saṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Uma

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva and Śakti are intrinsically one, but the soul’s experience of divine light is obscured by impurities (mala), creating the appearance of limitation until purification and grace restore clarity.

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

Linga-worship centers the seeker on the one Reality of Śiva-Śakti; by devotion, mantra, and purity, the obscuring “soot” of mala is reduced, allowing the same divine light to be recognized through Saguna worship and realized as the supreme principle.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies purification-oriented practice: steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), inner and outer śauca, and Shaiva disciplines like bhasma/tripuṇḍra and devotion that remove mala so awareness shines unobstructed.