Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

Inquiry into Śiva’s Principle and the Parā–Aparā Paradox

Devanagari script

देवो ऽपि स्वयमायातः पुत्रदर्शनलालसः । सह देव्यांकमारोप्य ततो ऽस्य स्मेरमाननम्

Transliteration

devo 'pi svayamāyātaḥ putradarśanalālasaḥ | saha devyāṃkamāropya tato 'sya smeramānanam

Translation

主なる神ご自身も、御子を見んと切に望みつつそこへ来臨された。女神とともに幼子を抱き上げてその膝に載せ、そしてほほえみを湛えた御顔を見つめられた。

Word by Word

• देवः: the god (Śiva)
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); समुच्चय/अपि-भाव

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मार्थक (reflexive adverb)

• आयातः: came
• आयातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + या (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• पुत्रदर्शनलालसः: eager to see (his) son
• पुत्रदर्शनलालसः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुत्र + दर्शन + लालस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुत्रस्य दर्शनं तस्मिन् लालसः) — विशेषणम् ‘देवः’

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahartha (सहार्थ/ सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-योगे अव्यय; सह + तृतीया

• देव्याः: of the goddess (Pārvatī)
• देव्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अङ्कम्: lap
• अङ्कम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आरोप्य: having placed (him)
• आरोप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘आरोप्य’; अर्थः ‘having placed/caused to mount’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त; अर्थः ‘तदनन्तरम्’

• अस्य: of him
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्मेरम्: smiling
• स्मेरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मेर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘आननम्’

• आननम्: face
• आननम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: The transcendent Lord enters the intimate domestic register—divinity expressed as parental līlā.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace) expressed through intimate, saguna (personal) divine love—teaching that the Supreme Lord is not distant, but compassionately accessible to devotees through bhakti.

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

While the Liṅga points to Śiva’s transcendence (nirguṇa), this scene reveals His saguna tenderness in līlā; both are complementary—devotees worship the Liṅga while remembering the Lord’s personal grace and presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice loving remembrance (smaraṇa) of Śiva’s compassionate form while japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” optionally with tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa to steady devotion and attention.