Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9

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

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

यथा शिवस्तथा देवी यथा देवी तथा शिवः । नानयोरंतरं विद्याच्चंद्रचन्द्रिकयोरिव

Transliteration

yathā śivastathā devī yathā devī tathā śivaḥ | nānayoraṃtaraṃ vidyāccaṃdracandrikayoriva

Translation

พระศิวะเป็นเช่นไร พระเทวีก็เป็นเช่นนั้น; พระเทวีเป็นเช่นไร พระศิวะก็เป็นเช่นนั้น อย่าพึงเห็นความแตกต่างระหว่างทั้งสอง—ดุจดวงจันทร์กับแสงจันทร์

Word by Word

• yathā: as, just as
• yathā: Upamā/Prakāra (उपमा/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Correlative adverb)

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• tathā: so, likewise
• tathā: Upamā/Prakāra (उपमा/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Correlative adverb)

• devī: the Goddess
• devī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• yathā: as
• yathā: Upamā/Prakāra (उपमा/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Correlative adverb)

• devī: the Goddess
• devī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• tathā: so
• tathā: Upamā/Prakāra (उपमा/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Correlative adverb)

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Negation particle)

• anayoḥ: between/of these two
• anayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th or Locative/7th), द्विवचन (Dual); अर्थतः—‘अनयोः (एतयोः द्वयोः)’

• antaram: difference, interval
• antaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• vidyāt: should know/consider
• vidyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (विद् धातु, ‘जानाति’)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; निषेधेन सह—‘न विद्यात्’

• candra-candrikayoḥ: of the moon and moonlight
• candra-candrikayoḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + candrikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्री/पुं समाहार-द्वन्द्व, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Gen/Loc), द्विवचन (Dual); समासः—द्वन्द्व: ‘चन्द्रः च चन्द्रिका च’

• iva: like, as if
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Upamā particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devi (Shakti/Parvati)

FAQs

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

It teaches the inseparability of Śiva (Pati, the Lord) and Devī (Śakti, His power). Realizing their non-difference matures devotion into right knowledge, removing dualistic misunderstanding and supporting the Shaiva aim of liberation through Śiva’s grace.

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

In Liṅga worship, Śiva is adored together with His Śakti—often invoked through āvaraṇa-devatās and the living power of mantra. This verse affirms that Saguna Śiva is never without Śakti; worship of the Liṅga is therefore worship of the inseparable Śiva-Śakti reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva and Devī as one, repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with the understanding that mantra-śakti and Śiva are inseparable—like moon and moonlight—while offering bilva leaves and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of Śiva-tattva.