Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 28

षडध्ववेदनम् (Ṣaḍadhva-vedanam) — The Sixfold Path: Sound, Meaning, and Tattva-Distribution

Devanagari script

शक्तिराज्ञा परा शैवी चिद्रूपा मरमेश्वरी । शिवो ऽधितिष्ठत्यखिलं यया कारणभूतया

Transliteration

śaktirājñā parā śaivī cidrūpā marameśvarī | śivo 'dhitiṣṭhatyakhilaṃ yayā kāraṇabhūtayā

Translation

പരമ ശൈവീ, ചിദ്രൂപിണീ, രാജ്ഞീസ്വരൂപിണീ പരമേശ്വരി ശക്തി—കാരണമൂർത്തിയായ അവളാൽ—ശിവൻ സമസ്ത വിശ്വത്തെയും അധിഷ്ഠിച്ച് ധരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• शक्तिः: Power/Śakti
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राज्ञा: sovereign/queen (as epithet)
• राज्ञा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्ञी/राज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (पाठान्तर-सम्भवः: राज्ञा तृतीया एकवचन 'by the king' इति, परन्तु अत्र स्त्री-प्रथमा 'queen/sovereign lady' अर्थे)

• परा: supreme
• परा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शैवी: Śaiva; belonging to Śiva
• शैवी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चिद्रूपा: of the nature of consciousness
• चिद्रूपा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित् + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ('of the form of consciousness')

• मरमेश्वरी: (Marama-)Goddess, the sovereign lady
• मरमेश्वरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरम + ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ('lady of marama'); (पाठे 'मरम' दुर्लभः—सम्भाव्यं 'परमेश्वरी' इति पाठान्तरम्)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अधितिष्ठति: presides over/stands over
• अधितिष्ठति: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अखिलम्: the entire (universe)
• अखिलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यया: by whom/through which (Śakti)
• यया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Instrumental)

• कारणभूतया: as the causal (principle)
• कारणभूतया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; in apposition to यया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कारण + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ('having become the cause' = causal)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s lordship over the cosmos is inseparable from Śakti—the supreme conscious power that functions as the causal basis, highlighting the Shaiva Siddhanta vision of Pati (Śiva) acting through His Śakti for creation, sustenance, and liberation.

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

In Linga worship, the devotee honors Śiva as the supreme Lord while recognizing His manifesting power as Śakti; the Linga signifies Śiva’s transcendence, and the experienced presence, grace, and unfolding of the universe are understood through Śakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as pure consciousness (cit) together with Śakti as His sovereign power, and repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with the intention of receiving Śakti’s grace that steadies the mind and leads toward moksha.