Shloka 18
शिवस्यार्द्धनारीनरावतारवर्णनम्
Description of Shiva’s Ardhanārī-nara Manifestation
न निर्गतं पुरा त्वत्तो नारीणां कुलमव्ययम् । तेन नारीकुलं श्रेष्ठं मम शक्तिर्न विद्यते
na nirgataṃ purā tvatto nārīṇāṃ kulamavyayam | tena nārīkulaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ mama śaktirna vidyate
From you, in the beginning, the imperishable lineage of women did not proceed. Therefore the lineage of women is superior; and without it, my own śakti is not manifest.
Lord Shiva (implied, speaking in a doctrinal context on Shakti and manifestation within the Shatarudrasaṃhitā narration)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: creative
FAQs
The verse highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta insight that Shiva’s supreme consciousness (Pati) is inseparable from Shakti, the power by which creation and grace become manifest; honoring the feminine principle is thus honoring Shiva’s own operative potency.
In Linga worship, Shiva is adored as the transcendent reality, while Shakti is implicitly present as the dynamic power of revelation and blessing; this verse supports Saguna devotion where Shiva’s grace is experienced through His Shakti in the world.
A practical takeaway is to worship Shiva together with Shakti—mentally pairing japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with reverence for the divine power that enables realization, supported by traditional Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and steady mantra-japa.