Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

सर्वतः पाणिपादो ऽयं सर्वतो ऽक्षिशिरोमुखः । सर्वतः श्रुतिमांल्लोके सर्वमावृत्य तिष्ठति

Transliteration

sarvataḥ pāṇipādo 'yaṃ sarvato 'kṣiśiromukhaḥ | sarvataḥ śrutimāṃlloke sarvamāvṛtya tiṣṭhati

Translation

Er, der Herr (Pati), hat Hände und Füße überall; überall sind Seine Augen, Häupter und Gesichter. In dieser Welt hört Er von allen Seiten; alles durchdringend steht Er da als der allumfassende Herr, in allen Wesen immanent und doch über alles erhaben.

Word by Word

• सर्वतः: everywhere/from all sides
• सर्वतः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• पाणि-पादः: (one who has) hands and feet
• पाणि-पादः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (itaretara-dvandva)

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्वतः: everywhere/from all sides
• सर्वतः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अक्षि-शिरः-मुखः: (one who has) eyes, head, and faces (everywhere)
• अक्षि-शिरः-मुखः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; त्रि-पद-द्वन्द्व-समासः

• सर्वतः: everywhere/from all sides
• सर्वतः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• श्रुतिमान्: having hearing/ears; all-hearing
• श्रुतिमान्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक) + मतुप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सर्वम्: all (everything)
• सर्वम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आवृत्य: having covered/enveloped
• आवृत्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having done)

• तिष्ठति: stands/abides
• तिष्ठति: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A universal theophany statement (sarvataḥ…): Śiva as the all-encompassing Lord. In jyotirliṅga hermeneutics, the ‘jyotis’ is the same all-seeing/all-hearing presence localized for grace.

Significance: Cultivates sarva-śiva-bhāva: seeing every action and perception as occurring within Śiva’s pervasion, turning ordinary life into continuous worship.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: sarvataḥ pāṇipādo 'yaṃ sarvato 'kṣiśiromukhaḥ | sarvataḥ śrutimāṃl loke sarvam āvṛtya tiṣṭhati

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches Shiva as Pati—the all-pervading consciousness that pervades every sense and every being—guiding the seeker to see the Lord as both immanent in the world and beyond it, which supports liberation through right knowledge and devotion.

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

The Linga is a focused, saguna support for worship that points to this very truth: the Lord who is worshipped in one sacred form actually pervades all forms. Thus, Linga-puja trains the mind to recognize Shiva everywhere.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Shiva-dhyana: contemplate that all seeing, hearing, and action are pervaded by Shiva; accompany it with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to steady awareness in the all-pervading Lord.