Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 24

अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace

Devanagari script

ब्रह्माण्डस्याधिपत्यं हि श्रीकण्ठस्य न संशयः । श्रीकण्ठाख्यां शिवो मूर्तिं क्रीडतीमधितिष्ठति

Transliteration

brahmāṇḍasyādhipatyaṃ hi śrīkaṇṭhasya na saṃśayaḥ | śrīkaṇṭhākhyāṃ śivo mūrtiṃ krīḍatīmadhitiṣṭhati

Translation

حقًّا لا شكّ أن سيادة الكون بأسره هي لشريكانثا. إن شيفا يقيم في صورته المسماة شريكانثا، مستمتعًا باللِّيلَا الإلهية وهو في الوقت نفسه يسند الكون ويحكمه.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्माण्डस्य: of the universe/egg of Brahmā
• ब्रह्माण्डस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्माण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• अधिपत्यम्: lordship, sovereignty
• अधिपत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता) (as predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिपत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• श्रीकण्ठस्य: of Śrīkaṇṭha
• श्रीकण्ठस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीकण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• न: not, no
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता) (in existential sense: there is no doubt)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• श्रीकण्ठ-आख्याम्: named ‘Śrīkaṇṭha’
• श्रीकण्ठ-आख्याम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (of मूर्तिम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीकण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (श्रीकण्ठ इति आख्या यस्याः)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• मूर्तिम्: form, embodiment
• मूर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• क्रीडतीम्: sporting, playing
• क्रीडतीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (of मूर्तिम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु) + शतृ → क्रीडत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले (present active participle)

• अधितिष्ठति: presides over, inhabits
• अधितिष्ठति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a specific Jyotirliṅga; it asserts Śrīkaṇṭha’s adhipatya over the brahmāṇḍa and frames cosmic rule as līlā (krīḍā).

Significance: Supports īśvara-bhāva in worship: the pilgrim approaches Śiva as the unquestioned sovereign who sustains the cosmos in effortless play.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: brahmāṇḍa-governance (cosmic order sustained as līlā)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Śrīkaṇṭha)

FAQs

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

It affirms Śiva as Pati—the supreme Lord and ruler of the brahmāṇḍa—who governs all while remaining free and playful (līlā), guiding bound souls toward liberation through His grace.

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

By naming Śiva’s Śrīkaṇṭha-mūrti, the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā: devotees may worship the Linga or a personal form as the very cosmic Lord who presides over all worlds, making form-worship a direct approach to the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as Śrīkaṇṭha—the sovereign within all realms—while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering bilva leaves to the Liṅga with the bhāva that the Lord Himself sustains the universe.