Shloka 24
प्रणवमहिमा — The Greatness of the Praṇava (Om) as Śiva
स सर्वज्ञः सर्वकर्त्ता सर्वेशो निर्मलोऽव्ययः । अनिर्देश्यः परब्रह्म साक्षात्सदसतः परः
sa sarvajñaḥ sarvakarttā sarveśo nirmalo'vyayaḥ | anirdeśyaḥ parabrahma sākṣātsadasataḥ paraḥ
Er ist allwissend, der Urheber alles Wirkens und der Herr über alles—makellos und unvergänglich. Unbeschreiblich ist er: das höchste Brahman selbst, das unmittelbar sowohl das Manifestierte (sat) als auch das Unmanifestierte (asat) übersteigt.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Mantra: स सर्वज्ञः सर्वकर्त्ता सर्वेशो निर्मलोऽव्ययः । अनिर्देश्यः परब्रह्म साक्षात्सदसतः परः
Type: stotra
Cosmic Event: Transcendence of sat/asat (beyond manifest/unmanifest), implying a metaphysical rather than calendrical cosmic frame.
FAQs
This verse establishes Shiva as Pati—the supreme, stainless, imperishable reality who is both the inner witness and the transcendent Lord, beyond all limiting categories. Meditating on Him as “anirdeśya parabrahma” supports liberation (moksha) by shifting the seeker from worldly identifications (pāśa) toward the Supreme.
Though Shiva is ultimately indescribable and beyond sat/asat, the Shiva Purana upholds accessible worship through Saguna forms—especially the Linga—as a compassionate means to approach the Nirguna Parabrahman. Linga worship becomes a doorway where form leads the devotee to the formless truth indicated here.
A fitting practice is japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while contemplating Shiva as “sarveśa” and “avyaya.” In ritual, perform Linga abhisheka with a pure mind and, where traditional, apply tripuṇḍra bhasma as a reminder of His stainless, imperishable nature.