Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1

शक्तितत्त्ववर्णनम् / Exposition of the Principle of Śakti

Devanagari script

उपमन्युरुवाच । शक्तिस्स्वाभविकी तस्य विद्या विश्वविलक्षणा । एकानेकस्य रूपेण भाति भानोरिव प्रभा

Transliteration

upamanyuruvāca | śaktissvābhavikī tasya vidyā viśvavilakṣaṇā | ekānekasya rūpeṇa bhāti bhānoriva prabhā

Translation

ഉപമന്യു പറഞ്ഞു—അവന്റെ ശക്തി സ്വാഭാവികം; അവന്റെ വിദ്യ സർവ്വവിശ്വത്തിലും അതുല്യം. ആ ഏകതത്ത്വം അനേകരൂപത്തിൽ പ്രകാശിക്കുന്നു—സൂര്യന്റെ പ്രഭപോലെ.

Word by Word

• upamanyuḥ: Upamanyu
• upamanyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upamanyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper noun

• uvāca: said/spoke
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaktiḥ: power/energy
• śaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• svābhavikī: innate/natural
• svābhavikī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svābhavikī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with śaktiḥ

• tasya: of him/of that
• tasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• vidyā: knowledge
• vidyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• viśva-vilakṣaṇā: distinct from the universe
• viśva-vilakṣaṇā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + vilakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (viśvasya vilakṣaṇā)

• ekā-nekasya: of the one-and-many
• ekā-nekasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekāneka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; द्वन्द्व (ekā ca anekā ca) used as a single qualifier

• rūpeṇa: by/through (its) form
• rūpeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• bhāti: shines/appears
• bhāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhā (भा धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhānoḥ: of the sun
• bhānoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhānu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle (उपमा-निपात)

• prabhā: radiance/splendor
• prabhā: Upamāna/Upameya (उपमान/उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Upamanyu

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śaktissvābhavikī tasya vidyā viśvavilakṣaṇā | ekānekasya rūpeṇa bhāti bhānoriva prabhā

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva (Pati) possesses inherent Śakti and transcendent Vidyā, and that the multiplicity of the universe is a manifestation of the One—supporting a contemplative vision that leads the soul (paśu) toward liberation from bondage (pāśa).

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

The verse clarifies that while Śiva is one and beyond the world, He also appears in many forms; thus Linga worship and saguna forms are valid supports for approaching the same supreme reality whose light pervades all manifestations.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the One Śiva shining through all experiences (sarva-vyāpti-bhāvanā) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” using the Linga as a steady focus for recognizing the single divine consciousness behind the many.