Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 66

शिवशक्त्यैक्य-तत्त्वविचारः / Inquiry into the Unity of Śiva and Śakti

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

शब्दजालमशेषं तु धत्ते सर्वस्य वल्लभा । अर्थस्वरूपमखिलं धत्ते मुग्धेन्दुशेखरः

Transliteration

śabdajālamaśeṣaṃ tu dhatte sarvasya vallabhā | arthasvarūpamakhilaṃ dhatte mugdhenduśekharaḥ

Translation

The Beloved of all, the Goddess, upholds the entire boundless web of sound (speech). The Moon-crested Lord, Śiva, upholds the complete reality of meaning. Thus sound and meaning abide in the Divine Couple as their own nature.

Word by Word

• śabda-jālam: the net/collection of words
• śabda-jālam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śabdānāṃ jālam)

• aśeṣam: entire, without remainder
• aśeṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); विशेषणम् (qualifying śabda-jālam)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (निपात), adversative/emphatic particle

• dhatte: bears/holds
• dhatte: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• sarvasya: of all
• sarvasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग) (also usable as pronoun), Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• vallabhā: the beloved (Goddess)
• vallabhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vallabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• artha-svarūpam: the very nature/form of meaning
• artha-svarūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक) + svarūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (arthasya svarūpam)

• akhilam: entire, all
• akhilam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); विशेषणम् (qualifying artha-svarūpam)

• dhatte: bears/holds
• dhatte: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• mugdha-indu-śekharaḥ: the one with the charming moon as crest (Śiva)
• mugdha-indu-śekharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mugdha (प्रातिपदिक) + indu (प्रातिपदिक) + śekhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (mugdhaḥ induḥ yasya śekharaḥ / ‘having the charming moon as crest’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śakti is the sustaining power behind śabda (mantra, speech, vibration), while Śiva is the ground of artha (true meaning, consciousness). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, liberation arises when the soul moves from mere sound to realized meaning through Śiva’s grace, with Śakti as the operative power.

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

In Linga worship, devotees approach Saguna Śiva through mantra and ritual sound (supported by Śakti), and are led toward the inner realization of Śiva as the meaning and essence (artha) indicated by the Linga—Pati who reveals Himself beyond symbols while remaining accessible through them.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with attentive contemplation: first steady the mind on the mantra’s sound (śabda), then meditate on its meaning—Śiva as the indwelling Lord who removes pāśa (bondage). This can be supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to Shaiva discipline.