Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

कौशिकी-गौरी तथा शार्दूलरूप-निशाचरस्य पूर्वकर्मवर्णनम् | Kauśikī-Gaurī and Brahmā’s account of the tiger-formed niśācara

Devanagari script

त्वामनाराध्य देवेशि पुरुषार्थचतुष्टयम् । लब्धुं न शक्यमस्माभिरपि सर्वैः सुरोत्तमैः

Transliteration

tvāmanārādhya deveśi puruṣārthacatuṣṭayam | labdhuṃ na śakyamasmābhirapi sarvaiḥ surottamaiḥ

Translation

Wahai Dewi, Penguasa para dewa! Tanpa memuja-Mu, kami—bahkan seluruh dewa yang utama—tak mampu meraih empat puruṣārtha: dharma, artha, kāma, dan mokṣa.

Word by Word

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचन, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative)

• अनाराध्य: without worshipping
• अनाराध्य: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन् + आराध् (धातु) → अनाराध्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थे ल्यप्/तुमुन्-सम्भवः; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; ‘without worshipping’ (gerund/absolutive sense)

• देवेशि: O Devī, ruler of gods
• देवेशि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेशी/देवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, संबोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative); ‘O goddess, lord of gods’

• पुरुषार्थचतुष्टयम्: the four aims of human life
• पुरुषार्थचतुष्टयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुषार्थ + चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुरुषार्थाणां चतुष्टयम्)

• लब्धुम्: to obtain
• लब्धुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Infinitive complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to obtain’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• शक्यम्: possible
• शक्यम्: Pradhāna (प्रधान/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √शक्)
• Form: कर्मणि-णीयत् (potential passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; ‘possible’

• अस्माभिः: by us
• अस्माभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, बहुवचन, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), ‘also/even’

• सर्वैः: by all
• सर्वैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, तृतीया-विभक्ति; विशेषण

• सुरोत्तमैः: by the best of the gods
• सुरोत्तमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental); कर्मधारयः (उत्तमाः सुराः)

Speaker

The devas (foremost gods), addressing Devī/Parvatī as Deveśī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Devi
• Devas

FAQs

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

It teaches that even exalted devas depend on Devī’s grace; without sincere ārādhana of the Divine Mother (Shakti), the full fruition of dharma, artha, kāma, and especially mokṣa does not mature. In Shaiva Siddhanta, grace (anugraha) is essential for release from pāśa (bondage).

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

It supports the Shiva Purana’s integrated worship of Shiva-with-Shakti: Linga worship is most complete when accompanied by devotion to Devī, since Saguna Shiva is inseparable from His power (Śakti). The verse underscores that attainment of life’s aims arises through propitiation of the divine principle manifest as the Goddess.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform regular ārādhana with bhakti—such as paired worship of Shiva-Linga with Devī (offerings, lamp, and mantra-japa). A practical takeaway is daily japa with a Shaiva mantra (e.g., Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) together with reverence for Devī, seeking grace for purification and liberation.