Shloka 16

गौरीप्रवेशः—शिवसाक्षात्कारः

Gaurī’s Entry and the Vision of Śiva

Devanagari script

त्वं हि वागमृतं साक्षादहमर्थामृतं परम् । द्वयमप्यमृतं कस्माद्वियुक्तमुपपद्यते

Transliteration

tvaṃ hi vāgamṛtaṃ sākṣādahamarthāmṛtaṃ param | dvayamapyamṛtaṃ kasmādviyuktamupapadyate

Translation

You are, indeed, the very nectar of speech, and I am the supreme nectar of meaning. Since both are nectar, how can it be proper that the two should be separated?

Word by Word

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

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक निपात (particle)

• वागमृतम्: nectar of speech
• वागमृतम्: Karma/Predicative (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक् + अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः वाक् + अमृत (तत्पुरुषः)

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रत्यक्षार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (directly, manifestly)

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

• अर्थामृतम्: nectar of meaning
• अर्थामृतम्: Karma/Predicative (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ + अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः अर्थ + अमृत (तत्पुरुषः)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अर्थामृतम्)

• द्वयम्: the pair/both
• द्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक निपात (also/even)

• अमृतम्: nectar-like/immortal
• अमृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (द्वयम्)

• कस्मात्: from what cause?/why
• कस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• वियुक्तम्: separated
• वियुक्तम्: Karma/Predicative (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + युज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘separated’

• उपपद्यते: is possible/occurs
• उपपद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + पद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Parvati

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a specific jyotirliṅga; it is a doctrinal dialogue using vāk–artha to assert inseparability of Śiva and Śakti.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that true realization is wholeness: word (vāk) and meaning (artha) must unite, just as Shiva and Shakti are inseparable—knowledge becomes liberating only when expression and inner understanding are one.

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

In Linga worship, mantra (sound) and bhāva/jñāna (meaning) are practiced together—recitation without understanding is incomplete, and understanding without devotionful utterance is also incomplete; Saguna worship trains their union.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with artha-bhāvanā—contemplating Shiva as Pati (the Lord) while chanting—so that vāk (recitation) and artha (realization) remain united.