Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 32

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

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

इच्छाशक्तिर्महेशस्य नित्या कार्यनियामिका । ज्ञानशक्तिस्तु तत्कार्यं करणं कारणं तथा

Transliteration

icchāśaktirmaheśasya nityā kāryaniyāmikā | jñānaśaktistu tatkāryaṃ karaṇaṃ kāraṇaṃ tathā

Translation

La Śakti de Volonté de Maheśvara est éternelle et gouverne tous les effets manifestés. Sa Śakti de Connaissance est, elle aussi, cet effet même : à la fois instrument et base causale de son accomplissement.

Word by Word

• इच्छाशक्तिः: the power of will
• इच्छाशक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इच्छा + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (इच्छायाः शक्ति:); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महेशस्य: of Maheśa
• महेशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (महा + ईश); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नित्या: eternal
• नित्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (इच्छाशक्तेः)

• कार्यनियामिका: regulator of action/effects
• कार्यनियामिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य + नियामिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कार्यस्य नियामिका); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• ज्ञानशक्तिः: the power of knowledge
• ज्ञानशक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ज्ञानस्य शक्ति:); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• तत्कार्यम्: that effect/task
• तत्कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तस्य कार्यम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• करणम्: instrument/means
• करणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कारणम्: cause
• कारणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: thus/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/also’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maheshvara

FAQs

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

It teaches that all transformation in the universe is governed by Śiva’s eternal Śakti—especially will (icchā) and knowledge (jñāna)—so liberation comes by aligning one’s limited will and understanding with the Lord who is the inner regulator (niyāmaka).

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

In Liṅga worship, the devotee approaches Saguna Śiva as the accessible focus, while contemplating that the same Lord—through icchā- and jñāna-śakti—operates as both the unseen cause and the effective instrument behind all manifested forms, including the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the inner governor of thought and action, repeating the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with the intent (icchā) to surrender and the clarity (jñāna) to discern Śiva as the true doer behind all karmic outcomes.