Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7

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

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

अपरं च परं चैव द्वयं चिदचिदात्मकम् । शिवस्य च शिवायाश्च स्वाम्यं चैतत्स्वभावतः

Transliteration

aparaṃ ca paraṃ caiva dvayaṃ cidacidātmakam | śivasya ca śivāyāśca svāmyaṃ caitatsvabhāvataḥ

Translation

下与上二者，此由有识与无识构成的二重实在，本性上皆归于湿婆与湿婆女神（Śivā）之主宰权。

Word by Word

• aparam: the lower (principle)
• aparam: Sambodhyārtha (predicate/coordinate term)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Conjunction)

• param: the supreme (principle)
• param: Sambodhyārtha (predicate/coordinate term)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Conjunction)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Particle/Emphasis)

• dvayam: the pair, the twofold (reality)
• dvayam: Karta (कर्ता) / Sambodhyārtha (predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• cit-acit-ātmakam: having the nature of sentient and insentient
• cit-acit-ātmakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cit (प्रातिपदिक) + acit (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष: ‘चित्-अचित्-रूपम्’ (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भावार्थे)

• śivasya: of Śiva
• śivasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Conjunction)

• śivāyāḥ: of Śivā (Pārvatī)
• śivāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Conjunction)

• svāmyam: lordship, sovereignty
• svāmyam: Karta (कर्ता) / Sambodhyārtha (predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Conjunction)

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता) / Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• svabhāvataḥ: by nature, inherently
• svabhāvataḥ: Hetu/Prakāra-adhikaraṇa (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Tasil-anta adverbial: -tas/तस्), अर्थः—‘स्वभावेन/स्वभावतः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shiva (Shivā/Parvati)

FAQs

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

It states that all reality is twofold—conscious beings (cit) and insentient nature (acit)—and that both are under the natural sovereignty of Śiva and Śivā, affirming Them as supreme Lords (Pati) over the entire cosmos.

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

Linga worship honors Śiva as the ground of both the higher (para) and lower (apara) realities; by worshipping the Saguna form (with attributes) one approaches the Lord who transcends attributes yet governs cit and acit through His power with Śivā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is contemplative japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while reflecting that both inner awareness (cit) and external experience (acit) are offered into Śiva-Śivā’s lordship, supporting surrender (śaraṇāgati) and steady meditation.