Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 65

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

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

पुंल्लिंगमखिलं धत्ते भगवान्पुरशासनः । स्त्रिलिंगं चाखिलं धत्ते देवी देवमनोरमा

Transliteration

puṃlliṃgamakhilaṃ dhatte bhagavānpuraśāsanaḥ | striliṃgaṃ cākhilaṃ dhatte devī devamanoramā

Translation

Le Seigneur Bienheureux, Souverain des trois cités (Tripurāntaka), revêt entièrement le principe masculin ; et la Déesse, joie des Devas, revêt entièrement le principe féminin.

Word by Word

• पुं-लिङ्गम्: masculine gender
• पुं-लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंस् + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘masculine gender’

• अखिलम्: entire; all
• अखिलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (qualifies पुंलिङ्गम्)

• धत्ते: bears; assumes
• धत्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• पुर-शासनः: the ruler of the city (Puraśāsana)
• पुर-शासनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर + शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; ‘ruler of the city/forts’ (epithet of Śiva)

• स्त्री-लिङ्गम्: feminine gender
• स्त्री-लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• अखिलम्: entire; all
• अखिलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (qualifies स्त्रीलिङ्गम्)

• धत्ते: bears; assumes
• धत्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• देव-मनोरमा: beloved/charming to the gods
• देव-मनोरमा: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव + मनोरमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (qualifies देवी) — ‘charming/delightful to the gods’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that the cosmos is sustained through the complete manifestation of two complementary principles—Śiva as the masculine (puruṣa) and Devī as the feminine (śakti)—whose harmony is foundational to liberation-oriented Shaiva understanding.

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

Linga worship points to Śiva as the supreme Lord (Pati) while also implying inseparability from Śakti; the verse supports seeing Saguna Śiva not as isolated, but as eternally united with Devī, the power through which manifestation is experienced.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the Linga as Śiva-Śakti unity during japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), offering bilva leaves and maintaining inner balance of will (Śiva) and power/compassion (Devī) in meditation.