Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

द्यावाभूमी च जनयन् देव एको महेश्वरः । स एव सर्वदेवानां प्रभवश्चोद्भवस्तथा

Transliteration

dyāvābhūmī ca janayan deva eko maheśvaraḥ | sa eva sarvadevānāṃ prabhavaścodbhavastathā

Translation

الربّ الواحد، مهاديڤا—مهايشڤرا، يُنْشِئ السماء والأرض. وهو وحده أصلُ جميع الآلهة وظهورُهم كذلك.

Word by Word

• द्यावाभूमी: heaven and earth
• द्यावाभूमी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यावा + भूमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• जनयन्: generating/producing
• जनयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• एकः: one/unique
• एकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying देवः)

• महेश्वरः: Maheshvara (the Great Lord)
• महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• सर्वदेवानाम्: of all the gods
• सर्वदेवानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• प्रभवः: source/origin
• प्रभवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• उद्भवः: arising/manifestation (origin)
• उद्भवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmogony: dyāvā-pṛthivī generation; devas’ manifestation

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maheshvara
• Devas

FAQs

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

It establishes Maheshvara as Pati—the supreme Lord and first cause—showing that even the devas depend on Him for their manifestation, guiding the devotee to take Shiva alone as the ultimate refuge for liberation.

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

By declaring Shiva as the origin of all, it supports Linga-worship as the universal emblem of the Supreme (Saguna for devotion), through which the mind is led toward the highest reality of Shiva beyond limited forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva as the one source while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and offering bilva leaves to the Linga, cultivating single-pointed devotion to Maheshvara.