Shloka 24

Devanagari script

अचिंत्यतेजसा युक्ता सर्वयोनिस्समुद्यता । एकाकिनी यदा माया संयोगाच्चाप्यनेकिका

Transliteration

aciṃtyatejasā yuktā sarvayonissamudyatā | ekākinī yadā māyā saṃyogāccāpyanekikā

Translation

Endowed with inconceivable splendor, Māyā—the womb of all origins—arises. Though in herself she is one and solitary, by association with the Lord’s power she becomes manifold.

Word by Word

• अचिन्त्य-तेजसा: with inconceivable radiance
• अचिन्त्य-तेजसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अचिन्त्य (कृदन्त; चिन्त् धातु + य) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘with inconceivable splendor’; instrumental of means

• युक्ता: endowed/possessed
• युक्ता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्त (क्त) ‘joined/endowed’

• सर्व-योनिः: having all sources/wombs
• सर्व-योनिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘having all wombs/sources (as her own)’

• समुद्यता: active/ready
• समुद्यता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + उद् + यम् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्त (क्त) ‘raised/ready/active’

• एकाकिनी: alone/solitary
• एकाकिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; temporal conjunction/adverb (‘when’)

• माया: Māyā (illusion/power)
• माया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• संयोगात्: from/through association
• संयोगात्: Apādāna/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन; ablative ‘from/through (the cause of) conjunction’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle

• अनेकिका: manifold/many-formed
• अनेकिका: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेकिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmogonic manifestation of Māyā as the universal matrix

Characters & Entities

• Maya

FAQs

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

It teaches that Māyā is a single principle, yet appears as the many forms of the world when linked to divine power; thus multiplicity is an effect of manifestation, not the ultimate reality of Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga-worship steadies the mind on Shiva as the transcendent Pati beyond Māyā, while also honoring Saguna Shiva as the Lord who, through Shakti, makes the one power appear as the many universe.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the witness beyond Māyā while japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” is performed to loosen Māyā’s veiling; apply Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and wear Rudrākṣa as reminders of dispassion and Śiva-bhāva.