Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 51

शैवधर्मप्रशंसा तथा पञ्चविधसाधनविभागः / Praise of Śaiva Dharma and the Fivefold Classification of Practice

Devanagari script

अर्धनारीश्वरं देवं निर्मलं मधुराकृतिम् । शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशं प्रसन्नं शीतलद्युतिम्

Transliteration

ardhanārīśvaraṃ devaṃ nirmalaṃ madhurākṛtim | śuddhasphaṭikasaṃkāśaṃ prasannaṃ śītaladyutim

Translation

Il contempla le divin Ardhanārīśvara : sans tache et pur, d’une forme douce et charmante ; éclatant tel un cristal immaculé, le visage serein, irradiant une splendeur fraîche et apaisante.

Word by Word

• ardha-nārī-īśvaram: Ardhanārīśvara (the Lord who is half woman)
• ardha-nārī-īśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ardha (प्रातिपदिक) + nārī (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुषसमास), Accusative: Dvitīyā vibhakti (द्वितीया/2nd case), Ekavacana (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); head: īśvara

• devam: the god
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (द्वितीया/2nd case), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• nirmalam: pure, stainless
• nirmalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirmala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (द्वितीया/2nd case), Ekavacana (एकवचन); agrees with devam/ardhanārīśvaram

• madhura-ākṛtim: of sweet form/appearance
• madhura-ākṛtim: Karma (कर्म) in apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक) + ākṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya-samāsa (कर्मधारयसमास) 'madhurā ākṛtiḥ', Feminine stem ākṛti; Dvitīyā vibhakti (द्वितीया/2nd case), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• śuddha-sphaṭika-saṃkāśam: like pure crystal
• śuddha-sphaṭika-saṃkāśam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + sphaṭika (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुषसमास), adjective; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (द्वितीया/2nd case), Ekavacana (एकवचन); 'having the appearance of pure crystal'

• prasannam: serene, gracious
• prasannam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (द्वितीया/2nd case), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• śītala-dyutim: cool radiance
• śītala-dyutim: Karma (कर्म) in apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: śītala (प्रातिपदिक) + dyuti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya-samāsa (कर्मधारयसमास) 'śītalā dyutiḥ', Feminine stem dyuti; Dvitīyā vibhakti (द्वितीया/2nd case), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse presents Ardhanārīśvara as the serene, purified Saguna manifestation of Pati (Śiva) inseparable from Śakti (Pārvatī), pointing to the non-dual harmony of consciousness and power that grants inner cooling peace and clarity in devotion.

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

While the Liṅga signifies Śiva beyond form (Nirguṇa संकेत), this verse emphasizes Saguna dhyāna—contemplating the Lord’s gracious form—showing that both approaches culminate in the same Pati, approached through purity, serenity, and bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice calm dhyāna by visualizing Ardhanārīśvara as crystal-bright and serene; support it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a sāttvika, purified mind to cultivate the ‘cool radiance’ described.