Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21

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

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

सा वाचामीश्वरी शक्तिर्वागीशाख्या हि शूलिनः । या सा वर्णस्वरूपेण मातृकेपि विजृम्भते

Transliteration

sā vācāmīśvarī śaktirvāgīśākhyā hi śūlinaḥ | yā sā varṇasvarūpeṇa mātṛkepi vijṛmbhate

Translation

വാക്കിന്റെ അധീശ്വരിയായ ആ ശക്തി ശൂലധാരിയായ ശിവന്റെ ‘വാഗീശാ’ എന്ന പേരിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധയാണ്. അവൾ അക്ഷരസ്വരൂപം ധരിച്ചു മാതൃകാ-രൂപമായും വിരിഞ്ഞ് പ്രകടമാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• सा: she/that (f.)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• वाचाम्: of speeches/words
• वाचाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• ईश्वरी: mistress/lady (sovereign)
• ईश्वरी: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य/Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शक्तिः: power, energy
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वागीशाख्या: named “Vāgīśā” (lady of speech)
• वागीशाख्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of शक्तिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नामधारक-विशेषण (having the name)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphasis/indeed

• शूलिनः: of the trident-bearer (Śiva)
• शूलिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• या: who/which (f.)
• या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• सा: that (same)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, in apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम (correlative pronoun)

• वर्णस्वरूपेण: in the form of letters/sounds
• वर्णस्वरूपेण: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करण/प्रकार (by/with the form)

• मातृकायाम्: in the Mātr̥kā (alphabet/letter-matrix)
• मातृकायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

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

• विजृम्भते: manifests/expands
• विजृम्भते: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + जृम्भ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Vagishā
• Mātṛkā

FAQs

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

It teaches that sacred speech (vāk) is not merely human language but Śiva’s own Śakti, manifesting as the phonemic Mātṛkā—implying that mantra is a direct mode of divine presence and liberation-oriented knowledge.

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

In Saguna worship, Śiva is approached through form and also through sound; this verse grounds mantra-recitation as Śiva’s Śakti itself, so japa and stotra become offerings to the Linga and a means to experience Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-sādhana—especially careful japa with awareness of sound (varṇa) as divine Mātṛkā—aligning speech, mind, and devotion toward Śiva (commonly expressed through Panchākṣarī practice).