Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 33

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

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

प्रयोजनं च तत्त्वेन बुद्धिरूपाध्यवस्यति । यथेप्सितं क्रियाशक्तिर्यथाध्यवसितं जगत्

Transliteration

prayojanaṃ ca tattvena buddhirūpādhyavasyati | yathepsitaṃ kriyāśaktiryathādhyavasitaṃ jagat

Translation

En vérité, l’intellect—revêtant la forme d’une compréhension décisive—détermine le but visé. Selon ce qui est désiré, la puissance de l’action se déploie; et le monde apparaît selon ce qui a été ainsi arrêté.

Word by Word

• prayojanam: purpose; object (to be determined)
• prayojanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• tattvena: by/through reality; in truth
• tattvena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• buddhi-rūpā: having the form of intellect
• buddhi-rūpā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/निर्धारणार्थः: 'buddheḥ rūpam' = having the form of intellect

• adhyavasyati: determines; resolves
• adhyavasyati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi-ava-√as (अधि-अव-√अस्, धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• yathā: as; according to
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/relator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (उपमान/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• īpsitam: desired; wished-for
• īpsitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √āp + īpsita (आप् धातु; ईप्सित कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle sense (कृत/कर्मणि), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kriyā-śaktiḥ: the power of action
• kriyā-śaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'kriyāyāḥ śaktiḥ' = power of action

• yathā: as; according to
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/relator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• adhyavasitam: determined; resolved
• adhyavasitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhi-ava-√as + adhyavasita (अधि-अव-√अस्; क्त/कर्मणि कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• jagat: the world
• jagat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It teaches that bondage and liberation begin in buddhi (discernment): when intention is clarified and aligned to truth, action-power follows that intention, shaping one’s experienced world; thus Shaiva practice purifies determination so it turns toward Shiva and Moksha.

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

Linga worship steadies the intellect in a single sacred focus; when buddhi determines Shiva as the supreme goal (Pati), kriya-shakti expresses as puja, japa, and dhyana, and the devotee’s ‘world’ becomes Shiva-centered rather than sense-driven.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Make a firm sankalpa for Shiva-realization, then support it with daily Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Linga-dhyana; consistent practice trains kriya-shakti to follow purified buddhi.