Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

Inquiry into Śiva’s Principle and the Parā–Aparā Paradox

Devanagari script

स्वस्य वक्षःस्थले स्वैरं नर्तयित्वा कुमारकम् । अनुभूय च तत्क्रीडां संभाव्य च परस्परम्

Transliteration

svasya vakṣaḥsthale svairaṃ nartayitvā kumārakam | anubhūya ca tatkrīḍāṃ saṃbhāvya ca parasparam

Translation

Après avoir, dans un jeu gracieux, fait danser librement le petit garçon sur sa propre poitrine, et en avoir goûté la joie, ils se regardèrent l’un l’autre avec affection et estime mutuelles.

Word by Word

• स्वस्य: of his/one's own
• स्वस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (pronominal)

• वक्षःस्थले: on the chest-place (on the chest)
• वक्षःस्थले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्षस् + स्थल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (vक्षसः स्थलम्)

• स्वैरम्: freely, at will
• स्वैरम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वैर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb/अव्यय)

• नर्तयित्वा: having made (him) dance
• नर्तयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नर्तय् (धातु; √नृत् causative/णिच्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), परस्मैपद-भावः; ‘having caused to dance’

• कुमारकम्: the boy/child
• कुमारकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• अनुभूय: having experienced
• अनुभूय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + भू (धातु; √भू)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (Conjunction/particle)

• तत्-क्रीडाम्: that play/sport
• तत्-क्रीडाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + क्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तस्य क्रीडा)

• संभाव्य: having considered/esteemed
• संभाव्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भावय् (धातु; √भू causative/णिच्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); ‘having regarded/considered’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (Conjunction/particle)

• परस्परम्: mutually, with each other
• परस्परम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb/अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Līlā as cosmic ‘sthiti’: sustaining intimacy and harmony through play, mirroring the Lord’s maintenance of order through joy.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Kartikeya

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s saguna-līlā: the Supreme (Pati) reveals tenderness and intimacy through divine play, teaching that devotion is nourished not only by austerity and doctrine but also by loving closeness that melts ego and awakens grace.

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

While the Liṅga signifies Shiva’s transcendent, formless reality, this scene emphasizes Saguna Shiva—knowable through relationship, affection, and līlā. Both modes support bhakti: the Liṅga anchors worship, and līlā deepens personal devotion and surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is līlā-smaraṇa (devotional recollection): meditate on Shiva’s compassionate play while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering mental worship (mānasa-pūjā) with reverence and tenderness.