Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 28

पशु-पाश-पतिविचारः / Inquiry into Paśu, Pāśa, and Pati

Devanagari script

विश्वधात्रीत्यजाख्या च शैवी चित्रा कृतिः परा । तामजां लोहितां शुक्लां कृष्णामेकां त्वजः प्रजाम्

Transliteration

viśvadhātrītyajākhyā ca śaivī citrā kṛtiḥ parā | tāmajāṃ lohitāṃ śuklāṃ kṛṣṇāmekāṃ tvajaḥ prajām

Translation

那至上而奇妙的湿婆圣力，亦名“阿阇”(Ajā)，亦名“毗湿瓦达特丽”(Viśvadhātrī)，即宇宙的扶持者。虽为不生，却被称为一体，现三种色相：红、白、黑，并显现为其子嗣——诸世界与众生。

Word by Word

• विश्वधात्री: the sustainer of the universe
• विश्वधात्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व-धात्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha-sūcaka (वाक्यार्थसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणसूचक

• अजाख्या: named ‘Ajā’
• अजाख्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजा-आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शैवी: Śaiva / pertaining to Śiva
• शैवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• चित्रा: variegated/wondrous
• चित्रा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• कृतिः: creation/manifestation
• कृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• परा: supreme
• परा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• अजाम्: Ajā (the unborn/primordial one)
• अजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• लोहिताम्: red
• लोहिताम्: Viśeṣaṇa of Karma (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शुक्लाम्: white
• शुक्लाम्: Viśeṣaṇa of Karma (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• कृष्णाम्: black
• कृष्णाम्: Viśeṣaṇa of Karma (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• एकाम्: one
• एकाम्: Viśeṣaṇa of Karma (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha-sūcaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोध (particle: but/indeed)

• अजः: the unborn one / Ajah
• अजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रजाम्: offspring/creation
• प्रजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that the supreme Śaiva Reality expresses as Śiva’s own Power (Śakti), one in essence yet appearing as diverse modes that sustain and manifest the universe—pointing to unity behind multiplicity.

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

Linga worship honors Śiva as the unborn, transcendent Pati, while also acknowledging His immanent Śakti that becomes the worlds; this verse supports Saguna devotion as a doorway to realizing the one, unborn source.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva together with His Śakti while japa-ing the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), contemplating that all changing colors and states are expressions of the one unborn Reality.