Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

शिवशक्त्यैक्य-तत्त्वविचारः / Inquiry into the Unity of Śiva and Śakti

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

एकधा च द्विधा चैव तथा शतसहस्रधा । शक्तयः खलु भिद्यंते बहुधा व्यवहारतः

Transliteration

ekadhā ca dvidhā caiva tathā śatasahasradhā | śaktayaḥ khalu bhidyaṃte bahudhā vyavahārataḥ

Translation

Les Puissances divines (Śaktis) sont, en vérité, dites une, deux, et même des centaines et des milliers ; car, dans l’usage du monde comme dans celui des Écritures, elles sont distinguées de multiples façons.

Word by Word

• एकधा: in one way
• एकधा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘in one way’)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• द्विधा: in two ways
• द्विधा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘in two ways’)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘indeed/just’)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (thus/likewise)

• शतसहस्रधा: in hundreds and thousands of ways
• शतसहस्रधा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + धा (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय; शत+सहस्र इति द्वन्द्व-आधारः, ‘-धा’ = ‘in ... ways’

• शक्तयः: powers/energies
• शक्तयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• खलु: indeed
• खलु: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खलु (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘indeed/surely’)

• भिद्यन्ते: are divided
• भिद्यन्ते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/मध्यभावे (passive/intransitive sense): ‘are divided’

• बहुधा: in many ways
• बहुधा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘in many ways’)

• व्यवहारतः: in practical usage/from convention
• व्यवहारतः: अपादान/हेतु (Source/Reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (ablative of respect/cause: ‘from the standpoint of practice/usage’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that although Śiva’s Power is ultimately one (non-dual in essence), it is described as twofold (Śiva–Śakti) and as countless functions for the sake of explaining creation, bondage, grace, and liberation—supporting a practical path to moksha.

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

Linga worship approaches the One Reality through form: devotees recognize one Supreme (Śiva) while honoring His manifold Śaktis as the divine workings experienced in the cosmos—making Saguna worship a doorway to realizing the Nirguna truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate during japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) that all diverse experiences and divine functions are expressions of one Śiva-Śakti; this steadies the mind and turns multiplicity into a unified contemplation.