Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 34

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

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

कल्पयत्यखिलं कार्यं क्षणात्संकल्परूपिणी । यथा शक्तित्रयोत्थानं शक्तिप्रसवधर्मिणी

Transliteration

kalpayatyakhilaṃ kāryaṃ kṣaṇātsaṃkalparūpiṇī | yathā śaktitrayotthānaṃ śaktiprasavadharmiṇī

Translation

Elle, dont la nature même est le saṅkalpa (la volonté), façonne tout effet en un instant; ainsi, par sa puissance d’enfanter les énergies, elle fait surgir la triade des śakti.

Word by Word

• kalpayati: creates; imagines; brings about
• kalpayati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kḷp (कॢप् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• akhilam: entire; all
• akhilam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kāryam: effect; work; that which is to be done
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṣaṇāt: in a moment; from a moment
• kṣaṇāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• saṃkalpa-rūpiṇī: having the form of intention
• saṃkalpa-rūpiṇī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃkalpa (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'saṃkalpasya rūpiṇī' = having the form of will/intention

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

• śakti-traya-utthānam: the arising of the three powers
• śakti-traya-utthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक) + utthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः: (śaktīnāṃ trayaṃ) + utthānam = 'arising of the triad of powers' (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/द्विगु-आश्रय)

• śakti-prasava-dharmiṇī: whose nature is the production of powers
• śakti-prasava-dharmiṇī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + prasava (प्रातिपदिक) + dharminī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'śakteḥ prasavasya dharmiṇī' = whose nature is the generation/production of power(s)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that cosmic manifestation is not slow or accidental: it arises from the divine Śakti’s saṅkalpa (sovereign will). In Shaiva Siddhanta, this highlights Pati (Shiva) as the supreme Lord and Śakti as His inseparable power through which all effects appear.

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

Linga worship centers on Shiva as the transcendent Pati along with His manifesting power. This verse supports Saguna contemplation: the devotee reveres Shiva not only as beyond attributes (nirguṇa) but also as the Lord whose Śakti instantaneously projects and governs the universe.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva with Śakti as one reality while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), contemplating that all thoughts and worlds arise from divine saṅkalpa; this supports inner surrender and steadiness in japa and dhyāna.