Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 2

अर्धनारीश्वरप्रादुर्भावः

Manifestation of Ardhanārīśvara and the Impulse for Procreative Creation

Devanagari script

न निर्गतं पुरा यस्मान्नारीणां कुलमीश्वरात् । तेन मैथुनजां सृष्टिं न शशाक पितामहः

Transliteration

na nirgataṃ purā yasmānnārīṇāṃ kulamīśvarāt | tena maithunajāṃ sṛṣṭiṃ na śaśāka pitāmahaḥ

Translation

Car autrefois, la lignée des femmes n’était pas encore issue du Seigneur; c’est pourquoi Pitāmaha (Brahmā) ne put accomplir la création née de l’union sexuelle.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• निर्गतम्: gone out, emerged
• निर्गतम्: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्गम् (धातु: गम् with निस्-उपसर्ग)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि (PPP/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कुलम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (formerly)

• यस्मात्: from whom, because of whom
• यस्मात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान/Cause-Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धे हेत्वर्थे च

• नारीणाम्: of women
• नारीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• कुलम्: lineage, family
• कुलम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ईश्वरात्: from the Lord
• ईश्वरात्: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• तेन: therefore, by that (reason)
• तेन: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण/Cause-Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तस्मात् कारणात् इत्यर्थे

• मैथुनजाम्: born of sexual union
• मैथुनजाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मैथुन-जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सृष्टिम् इति विशेषणम्; समास: मैथुनात् जा (तत्पुरुष)

• सृष्टिम्: creation
• सृष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• शशाक: was able
• शशाक: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• पितामहः: the Grandfather (Brahmā)
• पितामहः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse presupposes a Śaiva cosmogony where feminine lineage (nārī-kula) issues from Īśvara; without Śiva’s emanation of Śakti/feminine principle, maithunī sṛṣṭi cannot commence.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It affirms that even Brahmā’s creative function depends on Īśvara (Shiva); without Shiva’s initiating manifestation (here, the feminine principle/lineage), creation cannot proceed—highlighting Pati as the ultimate cause.

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

The Linga signifies Shiva as the transcendent source from whom all differentiation emerges; this verse reflects that manifest creation (including gendered principles enabling procreation) arises only when Saguna Īśvara wills it.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the sole enabling power behind all actions, and recite the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to align one’s limited agency with Īśvara’s grace; apply Tripuṇḍra as a reminder of dependence on Shiva.