Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 71

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

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

सर्वाकारात्मकावेतौ सर्वश्रेयोविधायिनौ । पूजनीयौ नमस्कार्यौ चिंतनीयौ च सर्वदा

Transliteration

sarvākārātmakāvetau sarvaśreyovidhāyinau | pūjanīyau namaskāryau ciṃtanīyau ca sarvadā

Translation

These two are the embodiment of all forms and the bestowers of every highest good. Ever are they worthy of worship and salutation, and they should always be contemplated.

Word by Word

• sarva-ākāra-ātmaka-au: having the nature of all forms
• sarva-ākāra-ātmaka-au: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); qualifying 'etau'

• etau: these two
• etau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• sarva-śreyas-vidhāyinau: bestowing all welfare
• sarva-śreyas-vidhāyinau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + śreyas (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhāyin (प्रातिपदिक; from √dhā with vi-)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); qualifying 'etau'

• pūjanīyau: worthy of worship
• pūjanīyau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūjanīya (प्रातिपदिक; from √pūj, तव्यत्/नीय)
• Form: Gerundive/necessitative adjective (नीयत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• namaskāryau: worthy of salutation
• namaskāryau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: namaskārya (प्रातिपदिक; from namas + √kṛ, यत्)
• Form: Gerundive/necessitative adjective (यत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• ciṃtanīyau: worthy of contemplation
• ciṃtanīyau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cintanīya (प्रातिपदिक; from √cint, नीयत्)
• Form: Gerundive/necessitative adjective (नीयत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva together with Shakti is the all-pervading Divine reality who grants the highest auspicious good; therefore, steady worship, reverence, and contemplation are presented as the direct spiritual discipline.

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

By praising the Divine as ‘embodying all forms,’ the verse supports Saguna worship—such as Linga-puja—as a valid means to approach the formless truth, since the Linga is revered as a universal form through which Shiva is honored.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It emphasizes daily puja and namaskara along with regular dhyana (mental contemplation) of Shiva with Shakti; this can be paired with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as constant remembrance.