Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

बाणासुरस्य क्रोधाज्ञा तथा अन्तःपुरयुद्धारम्भः

Bāṇāsura’s Wrathful Command and the Onset of Battle at the Inner Palace

Devanagari script

शिवस्सर्वेश्वरस्साक्षी कर्मणां परमेश्वरः । तदधीनमिदं सर्वं जगद्वै सचराचरम्

Transliteration

śivassarveśvarassākṣī karmaṇāṃ parameśvaraḥ | tadadhīnamidaṃ sarvaṃ jagadvai sacarācaram

Translation

Śiva ist der Herr über alles, das bezeugende Bewusstsein und der höchste Lenker aller Handlungen. Von Ihm allein hängt dieses ganze Universum ab—alles Bewegte und Unbewegte.

Word by Word

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्व-ईश्वरः: lord of all
• सर्व-ईश्वरः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) = सर्व + ईश्वर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• साक्षी: witness
• साक्षी: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• कर्मणाम्: of actions
• कर्मणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• परम-ईश्वरः: supreme lord
• परम-ईश्वरः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) = परम + ईश्वर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्-अधीनम्: dependent on him
• तत्-अधीनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तदधीन (प्रातिपदिक) = तत् + अधीन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject/apposition to idam sarvam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• स-चर-अचरम्: with the moving and the unmoving
• स-चर-अचरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सचराचर (प्रातिपदिक) = स + चर + अचर
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s supremacy within the Yuddhakhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Contemplation of Śiva as sākṣin and karmādhipati is presented as a purifier of agency and a support for surrender leading toward anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śivassarveśvarassākṣī karmaṇāṃ parameśvaraḥ | tadadhīnamidaṃ sarvaṃ jagadvai sacarācaram

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes Śiva as Pati—the supreme Lord and inner Witness—showing that karma and the entire cosmos function under His sovereignty; recognizing Him as sākṣī turns worldly action toward liberation through surrender and right understanding.

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

The Liṅga symbolizes Śiva as the all-pervading witness and lord beyond change; worship of Saguna Śiva (with form) trains devotion and surrender so that one realizes the same Śiva as the formless sākṣī governing all karma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice sākṣī-bhāva (witness meditation) while offering daily actions to Śiva with the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” ideally alongside Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as reminders of detachment and devotion.