Shloka 14

गौरीप्रवेशः—शिवसाक्षात्कारः

Gaurī’s Entry and the Vision of Śiva

Devanagari script

जगद्धिताय चरतोः स्वेच्छाधृतशरीरयोः । आवयोर्विप्रयोगे हि स्यान्निरालम्बनं जगत्

Transliteration

jagaddhitāya caratoḥ svecchādhṛtaśarīrayoḥ | āvayorviprayoge hi syānnirālambanaṃ jagat

Translation

We two move about for the welfare of the world, assuming bodies by our own free will. Indeed, if there were separation between us, the universe would become supportless—bereft of its sustaining ground.

Word by Word

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• हिताय: for the welfare
• हिताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), चतुर्थी (Dative, 4th), एकवचन (Singular); प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदानार्थे (for benefit)

• चरतोः: (of) the two moving/acting
• चरतोः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (चर्) (धातु) + शतृ/शानच्-वर्तमानकृदन्त (Kridanta base)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present participle), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. usage), द्विवचन (Dual); ‘चरन्तौ’ इत्यर्थे (meaning: the two who are moving)

• स्वेच्छा-धृत-शरीरयोः: of the two whose bodies are assumed by their own will
• स्वेच्छा-धृत-शरीरयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक) + धृत (धृ धातोः क्त-कृदन्त) + शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (Compound): तत्पुरुष (Tatpurusha), ‘स्वेच्छया धृतं शरीरं ययोः’ इति; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) ‘शरीर’ आधारः, षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), द्विवचन (Dual)

• आवयोः: of us two
• आवयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), द्विवचन (Dual)

• विप्रयोगे: in separation
• विप्रयोगे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viprayoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative, 7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (Particle), अव्यय; हेतौ/निश्चये (for emphasis/indeed)

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस्) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• निरालम्बनम्: unsupported, without support
• निरालम्बनम्: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate adjective with जगत्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirālambana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (Compound): तत्पुरुष (Tatpurusha) ‘निर् + आलम्बन’ (without support); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (addressing Parvati)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Assertion of cosmic ‘ālambana’ (support/ground): without Śiva–Śakti unity the world becomes nirālambana (supportless).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that the cosmos stands upon the inseparable unity of Shiva and Shakti—Pati with His power—who, out of compassion, freely assume forms to uphold dharma and guide beings toward liberation.

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

The Linga signifies Shiva as the supreme support (ādhāra) of all; this verse explains that the manifest, saguna activity of Shiva—together with Shakti—is what sustains the world, while pointing to the deeper, unbroken reality behind all forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva-Shakti as the inner support through japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady dhyāna on the Linga, cultivating the insight that all stability and grace arise from the Lord’s sustaining presence.