Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 13

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

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

शक्तौयया शिवो नित्यं भक्तौ मुक्तौ च देहिनाम् । आद्या सैका परा शक्तिश्चिन्मयी शिवसंश्रया

Transliteration

śaktauyayā śivo nityaṃ bhaktau muktau ca dehinām | ādyā saikā parā śaktiścinmayī śivasaṃśrayā

Translation

凭借祂自身的力量（Śakti），Śiva恒常临在于有身众生的奉爱与解脱之中。那原初、唯一、至上的Śakti——纯粹觉知所成——安住于Śiva，以Śiva为唯一归依。

Word by Word

• śaktyā: by/through Śakti
• śaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• yayā: by which
• yayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun (यद्)

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

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya usage (क्रियाविशेषणवत्), accusative singular neuter used adverbially

• bhaktau: in devotion
• bhaktau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• muktau: in liberation
• muktau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• dehinām: of embodied beings
• dehinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dehin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ādyā: primordial/first
• ādyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sā: she/that (Śakti)
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• ekā: one
• ekā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• parā: supreme
• parā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaktiḥ: Śakti
• śaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• cit-mayī: made of consciousness
• cit-mayī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cit (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa ‘consisting of consciousness’ (चिन्मयी)

• śiva-saṃśrayā: resting in Śiva
• śiva-saṃśrayā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa ‘having refuge in Śiva’ (शिवसंश्रया)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that both bhakti (devotion) and mukti (liberation) arise through Śiva’s own conscious Power—His Śakti—showing that grace is the inner cause behind the soul’s devotion and final release.

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

Linga worship focuses the mind on Śiva as the supreme Reality; this verse adds that the devotee’s ability to worship and attain liberation is empowered by Śiva-Śakti, the conscious presence supporting all Saguna practices and leading toward realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate Śiva-bhakti through japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditation on Śiva as pure consciousness, praying for Śiva-Śakti’s grace to transform devotion into moksha.