Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38

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

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

स्त्रीपुंसयोर्विभूतिश्च स्त्रीपुंसाभ्यामधिष्ठितम् । परमात्मा शिवः प्रोक्तश्शिवा सा च प्रकीर्तिता

Transliteration

strīpuṃsayorvibhūtiśca strīpuṃsābhyāmadhiṣṭhitam | paramātmā śivaḥ proktaśśivā sā ca prakīrtitā

Translation

显现为女与男的神圣威力，由阴与阳共同主宰。至上自性被宣说为湿婆，而那同一至上神力则被颂扬为湿婆女神（Śivā）。

Word by Word

• स्त्रीपुंसयोः: of woman and man
• स्त्रीपुंसयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī + puṃs (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (Dvandva) ‘स्त्री + पुंस्’; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (dual)

• विभूतिः: manifestation, power
• विभूतिः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhūti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• स्त्रीपुंसाभ्याम्: by/through woman and man
• स्त्रीपुंसाभ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī + puṃs (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (Dvandva); तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), द्विवचन (dual)

• अधिष्ठितम्: presided over, governed
• अधिष्ठितम्: Karma (कर्म/predicate participle; ‘is presided over’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi-√sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Kridanta), भूतकर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle, -ta); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• परमात्मा: the Supreme Self
• परमात्मा: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (Karmadharaya) ‘परमः आत्मा’; पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• प्रोक्तः: is declared
• प्रोक्तः: Karma (कर्म/predicate: ‘is said/called’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Kridanta), क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिवा: Śivā (the Goddess)
• शिवा: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• प्रकीर्तिता: is proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तिता: Karma (कर्म/predicate: ‘is proclaimed’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√kīrt (कीर्त् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Kridanta), क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Śivā

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: governance/presidency (adhiṣṭhāna) of manifestation by the conjoint feminine-masculine principles

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shiva (Shakti/Devi as Śivā)

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme Reality is Śiva (Pati) along with His inseparable Power, Śivā (Śakti), through whom the universe manifests as feminine and masculine—guiding the seeker to see divinity as one, expressed in complementary modes.

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

Liṅga worship honors Śiva as the Supreme Self while also implying His dynamic Śakti; Saguna worship commonly approaches this unity as Śiva with Śivā, recognizing that divine grace and manifestation arise through their inseparable oneness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva-Śakti abheda (non-separation) while chanting the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and contemplate that all dualities (female/male) are governed by the one Supreme Lord with His Power.