Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 49

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

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

रुचिर्भवो भवानी च बुधैराकूतिरुच्यते । भृगुर्भगाक्षिहा देवः ख्यातिस्त्रिनयनप्रिया

Transliteration

rucirbhavo bhavānī ca budhairākūtirucyate | bhṛgurbhagākṣihā devaḥ khyātistrinayanapriyā

Translation

Les sages déclarent que Ruci est Bhava (Śiva), et que Bhavānī est Ākūti. Bhṛgu est l’être divin qui fit sauter l’œil de Bhaga, et Khyāti est l’aimée du Seigneur aux Trois Yeux.

Word by Word

• रुचिः: Ruci
• रुचिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भवः: Bhava
• भवः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भवानी: Bhavānī
• भवानी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• बुधैः: by the wise (people)
• बुधैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• आकूतिः: Ākūti
• आकूतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उच्यते: is said/called
• उच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• भृगुः: Bhṛgu
• भृगुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भगाक्षिहा: the destroyer of Bhaga’s eye
• भगाक्षिहा: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भग + अक्षि + ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (भगस्य अक्षि हन्ति/जहाति इति)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ख्यातिः: Khyāti
• ख्यातिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख्याति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• त्रिनयनप्रिया: beloved of the three-eyed (Śiva)
• त्रिनयनप्रिया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + नयन + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (त्रिनयनस्य प्रिया)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a jyotirliṅga locale; the verse again uses identity-mapping: Ruci as Bhava, Ākūti as Bhavānī; and a Dakṣa-yajña-related epithet (Bhaga’s eye struck) recalling the divine correction of sacrificial pride.

Significance: Encourages devotees to interpret prosperity/fame (khyāti) and intention (ākūti) as sanctified when oriented to the Trinetra Lord; warns against ritual arrogance symbolized by injuries in the yajña episode.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Bhavānī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Bhṛgu
• Bhaga
• Ruci
• Ākūti
• Khyāti

FAQs

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

It identifies divine personages through Śiva’s names and epithets, pointing to the Shaiva Siddhanta insight that Pati (Śiva) and His Śakti are the inner reality behind many cosmic lineages and sacred designations.

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

By naming Śiva as Bhava and Trinetra, the verse emphasizes Saguna recognition—devotees approach the transcendent Pati through concrete names, forms, and epithets, which are classically contemplated in Liṅga worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is nāma-smaraṇa: meditate on Śiva as “Bhava” and “Trinetra,” and on Śakti as “Bhavānī,” while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to stabilize devotion and inner clarity.