Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30

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

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

स्थिरं चरं च यद्विश्वं सृजतीति विनिश्चयः । ज्ञानक्रिया चिकीर्षाभिस्तिसृभिस्स्वात्मशक्तिभिः

Transliteration

sthiraṃ caraṃ ca yadviśvaṃ sṛjatīti viniścayaḥ | jñānakriyā cikīrṣābhistisṛbhissvātmaśaktibhiḥ

Translation

സ്ഥിരവും ചരവും ആയ സമസ്ത വിശ്വവും അവൻ സൃഷ്ടിക്കുന്നു എന്നത് ദൃഢനിശ്ചയം. അത് അവന്റെ സ്വാത്മശക്തികളുടെ ത്രിവിധ രൂപങ്ങളായ ജ്ഞാനശക്തി, ക്രിയാശക്തി, ചികീർഷാ/ഇച്ഛാശക്തി എന്നിവയാൽ.

Word by Word

• स्थिरम्: immobile
• स्थिरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (यद्विश्वम् इत्यस्य)

• चरम्: mobile
• चरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• विश्वम्: universe
• विश्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सृजति: creates
• सृजति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उक्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• विनिश्चयः: the conclusion/decision
• विनिश्चयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनिश्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ज्ञानक्रिया: knowledge and action
• ज्ञानक्रिया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (समाहार/एकवचन-प्रयोग)

• चिकीर्षाभिः: by/through intentions to act
• चिकीर्षाभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिकीर्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; साधन/हेतु-भाव

• तिसृभिः: by three
• तिसृभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘three’ (instrumental)

• स्वात्मशक्तिभिः: by (his) own self-powers
• स्वात्मशक्तिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + आत्म + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वस्य आत्मनः शक्तयः / स्वात्मनः शक्तयः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse establishes Shiva (Pati) as the conscious source of creation, showing that the universe arises through His intrinsic triad of powers—knowledge, will, and action—highlighting His sovereignty beyond both the moving and unmoving worlds.

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

In Linga worship, devotees honor Shiva as the formless-conscious principle who also manifests as the worshippable form; this verse supports Saguna worship by explaining that manifestation is driven by Shiva’s own Shaktis, while He remains the supreme inner Self.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Shiva as the union of jñāna-śakti, kriyā-śakti, and icchā-śakti while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering bhakti with inner steadiness (sthira) amid life’s movement (cara).