Shloka 13

गौरीप्रवेशः—शिवसाक्षात्कारः

Gaurī’s Entry and the Vision of Śiva

Devanagari script

अहमग्निशिरोनिष्ठस्त्वं सोमशिरसि स्थिता । अग्नीषोमात्मकं विश्वमावाभ्यां समधिष्ठितम्

Transliteration

ahamagniśironiṣṭhastvaṃ somaśirasi sthitā | agnīṣomātmakaṃ viśvamāvābhyāṃ samadhiṣṭhitam

Translation

“I abide at the head of Agni, and you are established at the head of Soma. This entire universe, whose nature is Agni and Soma, is jointly presided over and sustained by us both.”

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तम-पुरुषार्थे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अग्निशिरः: on the head of Agni
• अग्निशिरः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि-शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (अग्नेः शिरः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• निष्ठः: situated; established
• निष्ठः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, मध्यम-पुरुषार्थे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सोमशिरसि: on the head of Soma
• सोमशिरसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम-शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (सोमस्य शिरसि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्थिताः: situated; standing
• स्थिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अग्नीषोमात्मकम्: having the nature of Agni and Soma
• अग्नीषोमात्मकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि-ईषोम-आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (अग्नीषोमयोः आत्मा/स्वरूपं यस्य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• विश्वम्: the universe
• विश्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• आवाभ्याम्: by us two
• आवाभ्याम्: Karana (करण/Instrument/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• समधिष्ठितम्: is presided over; is governed
• समधिष्ठितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अधि-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Universe described as Agni–Soma-ātmaka (a Vedic cosmological polarity) jointly governed by the divine pair.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Agni
• Soma

FAQs

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

The verse presents the cosmos as sustained through the complementary powers of Agni (transforming fire, tapas, kriyā-śakti) and Soma (cooling nectar, sustenance, jñāna/śānti). From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, Shiva (Pati) is the supreme governor who harmonizes these forces, and the seeker moves toward moksha by purifying and balancing them within.

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

In Saguna worship, the Linga is revered as the axis where opposites are reconciled—heat and coolness, activity and repose. This verse supports that vision: Shiva’s lordship is expressed as the stable center that presides over the Agni–Soma polarity underlying manifest reality, making Linga worship a contemplation of cosmic order and inner integration.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate balance: apply tripuṇḍra bhasma (Agni’s purifying mark) with mantra-japa—especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—while maintaining a cooling, sattvic discipline (Soma principle) through steady breath and restrained senses.