Shloka 24

शिवस्यार्द्धनारीनरावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Ardhanārī-nara Manifestation

Devanagari script

तस्माद्धि सा शिवा देवी शिवशक्तिर्जगन्मयी । शक्तिमेकां भ्रुवोर्मध्यात्ससर्जात्मसमप्रभाम्

Transliteration

tasmāddhi sā śivā devī śivaśaktirjaganmayī | śaktimekāṃ bhruvormadhyātsasarjātmasamaprabhām

Translation

Therefore the Goddess Śivā—Śiva’s own Power, pervading the whole universe—projected a single Śakti from the space between her eyebrows, radiant with the same splendor as her own Self.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: सम्बन्ध (cause/therefore)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययीभावः/निपातवत् (ablatival adverb: therefore/from that)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चय (indeed/for)

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शिवा: auspicious (Śivā)
• शिवा: विशेषण (of देवी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• शिव-शक्तिः: Śiva’s power
• शिव-शक्तिः: कर्ता-समानााधिकरण (apposition to देवी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘of Śiva’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जगत्-मयी: pervading/consisting of the world
• जगत्-मयी: विशेषण (of देवी/शक्तिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + मयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मयट्-प्रत्ययार्थः: ‘consisting of’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शक्तिम्: a power
• शक्तिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एकाम्: one
• एकाम्: विशेषण (of शक्तिम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भ्रुवोः: of (her) two eyebrows
• भ्रुवोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी, द्विवचन; अत्र षष्ठी (of the two eyebrows)

• मध्यात्: from the middle
• मध्यात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• ससर्ज: created/emitted
• ससर्ज: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आत्म-सम-प्रभाम्: having radiance equal to her own
• आत्म-सम-प्रभाम्: विशेषण (of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपमान/सम्बन्ध: ‘equal to her own’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of शक्तिम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Devi Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the cosmos is sustained through Śiva’s own inseparable Śakti; manifestation is not separate from the Divine, but an intentional emanation of the Supreme’s power for cosmic order and grace.

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

Liṅga worship honors Śiva as the transcendent Pati, while this verse highlights that His Saguna expression operates through Śakti—so devotion to the Liṅga naturally includes reverence for the dynamic power that makes divine presence knowable and effective in the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the union of Śiva-Śakti at the ājñā (between the eyebrows) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating inner stillness (Śiva) and awakened power (Śakti).