Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 36

षडध्ववेदनम् (Ṣaḍadhva-vedanam) — The Sixfold Path: Sound, Meaning, and Tattva-Distribution

Devanagari script

त्रिविधा कार्यवेधेन सा प्रसूते षडध्वनः । स वागर्थमयश्चाध्वा षड्विधो निखिलं जगत्

Transliteration

trividhā kāryavedhena sā prasūte ṣaḍadhvanaḥ | sa vāgarthamayaścādhvā ṣaḍvidho nikhilaṃ jagat

Translation

凭借果相的三重差别，她生出六道（ṣaḍ-adhvan）。这六重之道——由言音（vāk）与义理（artha）所成——即是整个宇宙。

Word by Word

• tri-vidhā: threefold
• tri-vidhā: Karta (कर्ता) — predicate adjective to sā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); विशेषण (adjectival)

• kārya-vedhena: by/through the piercing (division) of effects
• kārya-vedhena: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक) + vedha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3), Ekavacana (sg.); साधन/हेतु-निर्देश (instrument/cause)

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• prasūte: brings forth, produces
• prasūte: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√sū (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Pres.), Prathamapuruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana (sg.); Ātmanepada

• ṣaṭ-adhvanaḥ: the six paths
• ṣaṭ-adhvanaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ (प्रातिपदिक) + adhvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana (pl.); कर्मपद (object)

• saḥ: that (path)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता) — predicate subject for adhvā
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); सर्वनाम

• vāk-artha-mayaḥ: consisting of speech and meaning
• vāk-artha-mayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); विशेषण (adjectival)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• adhvā: the path
• adhvā: Karta (कर्ता) — subject (copular sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.)

• ṣaṭ-vidhaḥ: sixfold
• ṣaṭ-vidhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭ (प्रातिपदिक) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); विशेषण

• nikhilam: entire
• nikhilam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nikhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.); विशेषण

• jagat: world, universe
• jagat: Karma (कर्म) — understood with (covers/constitutes)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It explains a key Shaiva Siddhanta idea: the manifest universe is structured as a sixfold “path” (adhvan) formed through Śakti’s differentiating power, and liberation comes by discerning these categories and transcending them toward Pati (Shiva).

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

The six adhvas include mantra, sound, and sacred language—tools used in Saguna worship (Linga-puja, japa, stotra). By sanctifying vāk (sound) and artha (meaning) in ritual, the devotee uses the created order as a ladder to realize Shiva beyond it.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-japa with clear bhāva and correct understanding—especially Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya")—aligning sound (vāk) with meaning (artha), supported by Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where applicable.