Shloka 4

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

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

सदाशिवादिकीटांतरूपस्य जगतः स्थितिः । स्त्रीपुंरूपेण सर्वत्र दृश्यते न हि संशयः

Transliteration

sadāśivādikīṭāṃtarūpasya jagataḥ sthitiḥ | strīpuṃrūpeṇa sarvatra dṛśyate na hi saṃśayaḥ

Translation

From Sadāśiva down to the tiniest worm, the universe endures in manifold forms. Everywhere it is seen as the paired manifestation of the feminine and the masculine—of this there is no doubt.

Word by Word

• सदा-शिव-आदि-कीट-अन्त-रूपस्य: of the universe whose forms extend from Sadāśiva to insects
• सदा-शिव-आदि-कीट-अन्त-रूपस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदाशिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + कीट (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (सदाशिवादि...अन्तं रूपं यस्य/यत्) — Genitive singular neuter; ‘of that whose form ranges from Sadāśiva to insects’

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — Genitive singular neuter

• स्थितिः: existence/continuance
• स्थितिः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular feminine

• स्त्री-पुं-रूपेण: by/with the female-and-male form
• स्त्री-पुं-रूपेण: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + पुं (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (स्त्री च पुं च) + रूपेण — Instrumental singular neuter; ‘in the form of female and male’

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb) — everywhere

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: कर्मणि-क्रिया (Passive verb/कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive) — ‘is seen/appears’

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle) — indeed

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular masculine

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailāsa teachings within the Shiva Purana discourse to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General doctrinal verse; not tied to a specific jyotirliṅga. The theme of Śiva-Śakti polarity underlies many sthala traditions but is not localized here.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sadashiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that all existence—from the highest divine level (Sadāśiva) to the smallest creature—manifests through complementary principles, indicating the pervasive presence of Shiva’s power (Śakti) and Shiva’s consciousness (Śiva) throughout the cosmos.

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

The Liṅga symbolizes the undivided reality of Shiva with Śakti; this verse supports Saguna worship by showing that the visible world expresses that unity as paired energies (female–male), making the Liṅga a meditative focus on the source behind all forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva–Shakti non-separation while japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and internalize the vision of the same divine presence in all beings as a daily meditation.