Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

Śiva’s Boon to Viśvakarman and the Manifestation of Devī

Bhavānī/Parāśakti

Devanagari script

न निर्गतं पुरा त्वत्तो नारीणां कुलमव्ययम् । तेन नारीकुलं स्रष्टुं शक्तिर्मम न विद्यते

Transliteration

na nirgataṃ purā tvatto nārīṇāṃ kulamavyayam | tena nārīkulaṃ sraṣṭuṃ śaktirmama na vidyate

Translation

Auparavant, de toi n’était pas issue la lignée impérissable des femmes. C’est pourquoi je ne possède pas la puissance de créer la race des femmes.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negative particle)

• निर्गतम्: gone out, issued forth
• निर्गतम्: Kriyā-pūrakā (क्रियापूरक/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्गम् (धातु) → निर्गत (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate with implied 'अस्ति'

• पुरा: formerly, earlier
• पुरा: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• त्वत्तः: from you
• त्वत्तः: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी (5th case/Ablative), एकवचन

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

• कुलम्: clan, lineage
• कुलम्: Kriyā-pūrakā (क्रियापूरक/Predicative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अव्ययम्: imperishable, undecaying
• अव्ययम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying कुलम्)

• तेन: therefore/by that
• तेन: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• नारी-कुलम्: women’s lineage
• नारी-कुलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक) + कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नारीणां कुलम्)

• स्रष्टुम्: to create
• स्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive (भावे), 'to create'

• शक्तिः: power, ability
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

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

• विद्यते: exists, is found
• विद्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: secondary creation (prajāsarga) impeded without Śakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It asserts that even Brahma’s creative capacity is limited and depends on Shiva as Pati; the emergence of distinct lineages (here, the feminine lineage) requires Shiva’s Shakti, highlighting Shiva as the ultimate ground of manifestation.

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

The Linga signifies Shiva as the transcendent source from whom power (Shakti) flows into creation; worship of Saguna Shiva acknowledges Him as the bestower of the very capacities by which the cosmos and its beings are produced.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva as Pati, the giver of śakti, while repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating surrender (śaraṇāgati) to the source of all power and order in creation.