Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 13

कौशिकी-गौरी तथा शार्दूलरूप-निशाचरस्य पूर्वकर्मवर्णनम् | Kauśikī-Gaurī and Brahmā’s account of the tiger-formed niśācara

Devanagari script

पुण्यकर्मापि किं कुर्यात्त्वदीयाज्ञानपेक्षया । अजा प्रज्ञा पुराणी च त्वमेव परमेश्वरी

Transliteration

puṇyakarmāpi kiṃ kuryāttvadīyājñānapekṣayā | ajā prajñā purāṇī ca tvameva parameśvarī

Translation

Que peut accomplir même l’acte méritoire s’il ne s’appuie pas sur Ta connaissance divine ? Toi seule es l’Innée sans naissance, la Sagesse suprême, la Primordiale ; en vérité, Tu es Parameśvarī.

Word by Word

• पुण्यकर्मा: one of meritorious deeds
• पुण्यकर्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—“पुण्यं कर्म यस्य सः” (one whose deeds are meritorious)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थे “even/also”

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• कुर्यात्: would do/should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• त्वदीय: your
• त्वदीय: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वदीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; विशेषण—अज्ञानपेक्षया इत्यस्य

• अज्ञान: ignorance
• अज्ञान: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; (समासे पूर्वपद)

• अपेक्षया: in comparison to/with regard to
• अपेक्षया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपेक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; साधन/हेतु-भावे “in comparison/with regard to”

• अजा: unborn
• अजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण—परमेश्वरी इत्यस्य; “unborn”

• प्रज्ञा: wisdom/intelligence
• प्रज्ञा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; (परमेश्वरी-विशेषणरूपेण)

• पुराणी: ancient
• पुराणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुराणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण—परमेश्वरी इत्यस्य; “ancient”

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle of emphasis)

• परमेश्वरी: Supreme Goddess
• परमेश्वरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—“परमा ईश्वरी”

Speaker

A devotee-supplicant praising the Goddess (Śakti/Devī) within Sūta’s Vāyavīya narration

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that karma—even virtuous karma—cannot by itself grant liberation; true fulfillment depends on divine knowledge and grace, here addressed as Parameśvarī, the primordial wisdom-power guiding the soul beyond bondage.

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

It supports Saguna worship as a means to receive jñāna and anugraha (grace): devotion to Śiva-Śakti (often through the Liṅga) is not merely for worldly merit but for the awakening of liberating knowledge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prioritize japa and contemplation aimed at inner illumination—such as Pañcākṣarī mantra japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with bhakti—so that outward puṇya is joined to transforming knowledge rather than remaining mere ritual merit.