Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

सत्याः पुनस्तपश्चर्या — Satī’s Return to Austerity (Tapas) and Fearless Liṅga-Worship

Devanagari script

ननाम चास्य जगतो मातरं स्वस्य वै हरेः । रुद्रस्य च पितुर्भार्यामार्यामद्रीश्वरात्मजाम्

Transliteration

nanāma cāsya jagato mātaraṃ svasya vai hareḥ | rudrasya ca piturbhāryāmāryāmadrīśvarātmajām

Translation

Et il se prosterna devant elle : la Mère de l’univers, la noble Āryā, l’auguste épouse de son propre père Hari (Viṣṇu), et aussi la vénérable compagne du père de Rudra — Āryā, fille du Seigneur de la Montagne.

Word by Word

• ननाम: bowed
• ननाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अस्य: of him/this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

• मातरम्: mother
• मातरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• स्वस्य: of his own
• स्वस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन; आत्मीयवाचक (reflexive possessive)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/एवकारार्थक (emphatic particle)

• हरेः: of Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

• रुद्रस्य: of Rudra
• रुद्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• पितुः: of (her) father
• पितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

• भार्याम्: wife
• भार्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• आर्याम्: noble, venerable
• आर्याम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of भार्याम्/मातरम्)

• अद्रीश्वर: the lord of mountains
• अद्रीश्वर: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अद्रीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद) — अद्रि + ईश्वर (lord of mountains)

• आत्मजााम्: the daughter of the mountain-lord
• आत्मजााम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—अद्रीश्वरात्मजाम् = अद्रीश्वरस्य आत्मजा (daughter)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Rudra (Shiva)
• Himalaya (Lord of the Mountain)
• Arya (the noble goddess/consort)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights humility and right recognition of the Divine Mother as jaganmātā (Mother of the universe). In Shaiva understanding, honoring Śakti alongside Pati (Śiva) is a mark of spiritual maturity and supports the soul’s movement from bondage (pāśa) toward grace.

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

Linga worship in the Shiva Purana is not merely form-worship; it is devotion to Śiva as Pati together with His inseparable Śakti. Bowing to the cosmic Mother complements Saguna worship by acknowledging the power through which Śiva’s grace, protection, and liberation become manifest.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is namaskāra (prostration) with remembrance of Śiva-Śakti unity—optionally preceded by applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating reverence and surrender.