Shloka 24

Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

एवं सर्वशरीरेषु स्त्रीपुंभावविदो जनाः । परमात्मन्यपि मुने स्त्रीपुंभावं विदुर्बुधा

Transliteration

evaṃ sarvaśarīreṣu strīpuṃbhāvavido janāḥ | paramātmanyapi mune strīpuṃbhāvaṃ vidurbudhā

Translation

Vì thế, nơi mọi thân hữu tình, những người phân biệt được trạng thái nữ và nam cũng vậy—hỡi bậc hiền triết—các bậc trí còn nhận ra ngay trong Tối Thượng Ngã những năng lực “nữ” và “nam”, như người khôn hiểu rõ.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus/in this way
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय)

• सर्वशरीरेषु: in all bodies
• सर्वशरीरेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + śarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; तत्पुरुष: ‘सर्वेषु शरीरेषु’

• स्त्रीपुंभावविदः: knowers of the female-male state
• स्त्रीपुंभावविदः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī + puṃs + bhāva + vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; ‘knowers of female-male nature’; upapada-tatpurusha: ‘स्त्रीपुंभावं विदन्ति’

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; apposition to ‘स्त्रीपुंभावविदः’

• परमात्मनि: in the Supreme Self
• परमात्मनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; karmadhāraya: ‘परमे आत्मनि’

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) ‘also/even’

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• स्त्रीपुंभावम्: female-male nature
• स्त्रीपुंभावम्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī + puṃs + bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of ‘विदुः’; determinative compound

• विदुः: know
• विदुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (विद्) (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्/perfect), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); Parasmaipada; ‘they know’

• बुधाः: the wise
• बुधाः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; apposition to subject

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching a sage in the Kailasha Saṃhitā’s philosophical context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the wise perceive the masculine and feminine principles not merely as bodily gender, but as universal powers (Śiva–Śakti) present even in the Supreme Reality, indicating wholeness beyond ordinary duality.

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

The Liṅga symbolizes the Supreme beyond form while also indicating Śiva united with Śakti; this verse supports that Saguna worship can legitimately contemplate the paired divine energies within the one Paramātman.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the unity of Śiva and Śakti while chanting the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), seeing the Self as beyond bodily identity yet empowered by divine consciousness and energy.