Shloka 23

शिवस्यार्द्धनारीनरावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Ardhanārī-nara Manifestation

Devanagari script

एवं संयाचिता देवी ब्रह्मणा परमेश्वरी । तथास्त्विति वचः प्रोच्य तच्छक्तिं विधये ददौ

Transliteration

evaṃ saṃyācitā devī brahmaṇā parameśvarī | tathāstviti vacaḥ procya tacchaktiṃ vidhaye dadau

Translation

Thus entreated by Brahmā, the Supreme Goddess (Parameśvarī) replied, “So be it,” and granted that very power for the accomplishment of the ordained rite and purpose.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: सम्बन्ध (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• संयाचिता: entreated
• संयाचिता: विशेषण (of देवी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + याच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (requested/entreated)

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: करण (Karaṇa/Agent-in-passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• परमेश्वरी: the Supreme Lady
• परमेश्वरी: कर्ता-समानााधिकरण (apposition to देवी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपाधि/नाम

• तथा: so
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (so/thus)

• अस्तु: let it be
• अस्तु: क्रिया (quoted speech)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus/‘…’
• इति: सम्बन्ध (quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• वचः: words/speech
• वचः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र द्वितीया (object)

• प्रोच्य: having spoken
• प्रोच्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (पूर्वकर्म/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (ल्यप्/absolutive), अव्ययभाव (having said)

• तत्-शक्तिम्: that power
• तत्-शक्तिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (निर्देश/षष्ठी-भावः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विधये: to Vidhī (Brahmā)
• विधये: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; the quoted words are of the Goddess)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Devi (Parameshvari/Shakti)

FAQs

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

It highlights that even Brahmā’s functions succeed only through divine Śakti—grace that empowers ordained action (vidhi) under the supreme Lord’s cosmic order, a key Shaiva view of Pati-Śakti governing the worlds.

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

In Shaiva theology, Saguna Shiva is inseparable from Śakti; worship of the Linga implicitly honors the Lord together with His power that enables creation, preservation, and spiritual uplift—this verse illustrates that enabling power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is reliance on divine empowerment: begin rites with invocation (āvāhana) and remembrance of Shiva-Śakti, and steady the mind with japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) seeking Śakti-anugraha (grace) for successful practice.