Shloka 39

शक्तितत्त्ववर्णनम् / Exposition of the Principle of Śakti

Devanagari script

श्रीकंठेन शिवेनोक्तं शिवायै च शिवागमः । शिवाश्रितानां कारुण्याच्छ्रेयसामेकसाधनम्

Transliteration

śrīkaṃṭhena śivenoktaṃ śivāyai ca śivāgamaḥ | śivāśritānāṃ kāruṇyācchreyasāmekasādhanam

Translation

This Śivāgama was spoken by Śiva, the glorious Nīlakaṇṭha, to Śivā (Pārvatī). Out of compassion for those who take refuge in Śiva, it is the single means to the highest good.

Word by Word

• śrī-kaṃṭhena: by Śrīkaṇṭha
• śrī-kaṃṭhena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī-kaṃṭha (प्रातिपदिक; श्री + कण्ठ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘by Śrīkaṇṭha’

• śivena: by Śiva
• śivena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; apposition to śrī-kaṃṭhena

• uktam: spoken
• uktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; qualifying śivāgamaḥ as ‘spoken’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vac (वच्) + ukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘said/spoken’

• śivāyai: to Śivā (Pārvatī)
• śivāyai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; ‘to Śivā (Pārvatī)’

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

• śiva-āgamaḥ: the Śiva-āgama
• śiva-āgamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; with implied ‘asti’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva-āgama (प्रातिपदिक; शिव + आगम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘Śiva-āgama (scriptural tradition)’

• śiva-āśritānām: of those devoted to Śiva
• śiva-āśritānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva-āśrita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; शिव + √śri (श्रि) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of those who have taken refuge in Śiva’

• kāruṇyāt: from compassion
• kāruṇyāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāruṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; ‘out of compassion’

• śreyasām: of (spiritual) welfare
• śreyasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of welfare/ultimate good’

• eka-sādhanam: the sole means
• eka-sādhanam: Pradhāna (प्रधान/Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka-sādhana (प्रातिपदिक; एक + साधन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘single means’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Śiva-Āgama taught by Lord Śiva to Pārvatī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse frames Śivāgama as Śiva’s compassionate revelation to Devī for the welfare (śreyas) of devotees.

Significance: Hearing/receiving Āgamic Śiva-jñāna is presented as a direct means to śreyas (mokṣa) for śivāśritas (those who take refuge in Śiva).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It declares that Śiva’s revelation (Śivāgama), taught to Pārvatī, is given out of compassion to devotees who take refuge in Him, and that it serves as a direct, unified means to attain śreyas—ultimate welfare and liberation.

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

By calling the teaching “Śivāgama,” the verse points to the authoritative Śaiva path where Saguna Śiva—especially in Linga worship—is approached through revealed disciplines, devotion, and right understanding, culminating in the highest good.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to follow Śaiva-Āgamic discipline as one integrated sādhana—typically including devotion to Śiva, mantra-japa (notably the Panchakshara), and Āgama-aligned worship such as Linga pūjā, supported by purity and regular practice.