Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 22

Śiva’s Boon to Viśvakarman and the Manifestation of Devī

Bhavānī/Parāśakti

Devanagari script

शक्तिमेकां भ्रुवोर्मध्यात्ससर्जात्मसमप्रभाम् । तामाह प्रहसन्प्रेक्ष्य देवदेववरो हरः

Transliteration

śaktimekāṃ bhruvormadhyātsasarjātmasamaprabhām | tāmāha prahasanprekṣya devadevavaro haraḥ

Translation

Hara—Đấng tối thượng giữa các bậc thần linh—từ khoảng giữa đôi mày đã hiển lộ một Śakti duy nhất, rực sáng với quang huy chẳng khác gì Ngài. Rồi Ngài mỉm cười nhìn nàng và cất lời phán dạy.

Word by Word

• शक्तिम्: a power/energy
• शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• एकाम्: one (single)
• एकाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘शक्तिम्’ इति विशेषण

• भ्रुवोः: of (his) two eyebrows
• भ्रुवोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन

• मध्यात्: from the middle
• मध्यात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादानार्थ (ablative)

• ससर्ज: he created / emitted
• ससर्ज: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आत्मसमप्रभाम्: having radiance equal to himself
• आत्मसमप्रभाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् + सम + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-भाव: ‘आत्मना समा प्रभा यस्याः सा’ इति; ‘शक्तिम्’ इति विशेषण

• ताम्: to her / that (female)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु; आह = लिट्-रूप)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रहसन्: smiling / laughing
• प्रहसन्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + हस् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकर्तरि कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘हरः’ इति विशेषण

• प्रेक्ष्य: having looked (at her)
• प्रेक्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ईक्ष् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया

• देवदेववरः: the श्रेष्ठ among the god of gods / best of divine lords
• देवदेववरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘देवानां देवः’ इति (देवदेव) + ‘वरः’ (श्रेष्ठः)

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya discourse; the direct speech is by Lord Shiva in the next line/verse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: śakti-nirgama: Śiva emits a single Śakti from the brow-center (ājñā-sthāna symbolism) for cosmic function

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Hara

FAQs

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

It depicts Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) freely revealing His own Śakti—power inseparable from Him—showing that divine grace and liberation arise from the Lord’s will, not from limited egoic effort. The emergence from the brow-center also hints at higher command (ājñā) and awakened consciousness.

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

The verse presents Saguna Śiva (Hara) acting compassionately and personally—manifesting Śakti and speaking to her. In Liṅga worship, devotees approach this same accessible Lord whose power (Śakti) makes worship, purification, and realization effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is ājñā-cakra contemplation—steadying awareness between the eyebrows while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—supported by Shaiva markers like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to purity and focus.