Shloka 32

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

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

बलवाञ्छक्तिमांश्चेति व्यवहारः प्रदृश्यते । लोके वेदे च ससतं वामदेव महामुने

Transliteration

balavāñchaktimāṃśceti vyavahāraḥ pradṛśyate | loke vede ca sasataṃ vāmadeva mahāmune

Translation

O great sage Vāmadeva, in both the world and the Veda, common usage constantly recognizes (a Lord) as “the Powerful” and “the Possessor of Śakti.”

Word by Word

• बलवान्: strong
• बलवान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (strong)

• शक्तिमान्: powerful
• शक्तिमान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaktimat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (powerful)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction 'and')

• इति: thus (as)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, इत्यादि-उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• व्यवहारः: usage, convention
• व्यवहारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyavahāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रदृश्यते: is seen/appears
• प्रदृश्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• वेदे: in the Veda
• वेदे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभूत-विशेषण (adverbial accusative), नित्यत्ववाचक क्रियाविशेषण (always/constantly)

• वामदेव: O Vāmadeva
• वामदेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāmadeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• महामुने: O great sage
• महामुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vāmadeva

Characters & Entities

• Vamadeva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It affirms that both scripture (Veda) and lived experience point to the Supreme Lord as inherently powerful and inseparable from Śakti—supporting the Shaiva view that divine power is not accidental but essential to Shiva’s lordship (Pati-tva).

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

Linga-worship honors Shiva as Pati together with His Śakti; the verse supports Saguna devotion by highlighting how devotees naturally approach Shiva as the active, power-bearing Lord who bestows grace and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva with Śakti as one reality while repeating the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating the understanding that the mantra invokes the Lord who is ever ‘śaktimān’—capable of removing pāśa (bondage) and granting moksha.