Shloka 33

अद्वैतशैवसिद्धान्ते पुरुष-प्रकृति-विचारः

Puruṣa–Prakṛti Analysis in Advaita Śaiva Doctrine

Devanagari script

स्त्रीपुंरूपमिदं विश्वं शिवशक्त्यात्मकं बुधैः । भवादृशैरुपास्यं स्याच्छिवज्ञानविशारदैः

Transliteration

strīpuṃrūpamidaṃ viśvaṃ śivaśaktyātmakaṃ budhaiḥ | bhavādṛśairupāsyaṃ syācchivajñānaviśāradaiḥ

Translation

The wise know this entire universe to appear in the forms of female and male, and to be of the very nature of Śiva together with Śakti. Therefore, by those like you—skilled in the knowledge of Śiva—it should indeed be worshipped as Śiva-Śakti.

Word by Word

• strī-puṃ-rūpam: of female-and-male form
• strī-puṃ-rūpam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: strī + pumān + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (इतरेतर): स्त्री च पुं च (स्त्रीपुं) तयोः रूपम् = "having female-and-male form"

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; "this"

• viśvam: universe
• viśvam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; "universe"

• śiva-śakti-ātmakam: having the nature of Śiva and Śakti
• śiva-śakti-ātmakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva + śakti + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: शिवशक्त्योः आत्मा/स्वरूपम् यस्य = "consisting of Śiva and Śakti"

• budhaiḥ: by the wise
• budhaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; "by the wise"

• bhava-ādṛśaiḥ: by those like you
• bhava-ādṛśaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat + ādṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: भवदादृश = "like you"

• upāsyam: to be worshipped
• upāsyam: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण/Predicative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa+ās (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, तव्यत्/यत्-अर्थ (gerundive: "to be worshipped"), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• syāt: should be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; "may be/should be"

• śiva-jñāna-viśāradaiḥ: by experts in Śiva-knowledge
• śiva-jñāna-viśāradaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva + jñāna + viśārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: शिवज्ञानस्य विशारदाः = "skilled in Śiva-knowledge"

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that all manifested reality—seen as masculine and feminine—is pervaded by Śiva together with Śakti, so spiritual vision matures when one worships the world as an expression of Śiva-Śakti rather than as separate from the Divine.

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

The Liṅga signifies Śiva as the transcendent Pati, while Śakti is His inseparable power of manifestation; worship of Saguna Śiva (including Liṅga worship) is fulfilled when the devotee recognizes the whole cosmos as Śiva-Śakti and offers it back in reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Śiva-Śakti bhāvanā: while chanting the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), contemplate every experience as Śiva-Śakti, and offer daily worship with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as reminders of Śiva’s all-pervasion.