Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

एकैकं बहुधा जालं विकुर्वन्नेकवच्च यः । सर्वाधिपत्यं कुरुते सृष्ट्वा सर्वान् प्रतापवान्

Transliteration

ekaikaṃ bahudhā jālaṃ vikurvannekavacca yaḥ | sarvādhipatyaṃ kurute sṛṣṭvā sarvān pratāpavān

Translation

Er, der, obwohl Einer, sich zum vielfachen Netz der Schöpfung entfaltet und doch als der Eine bleibt—nachdem er alle Wesen hervorgebracht hat, übt jener machtvolle Herr die Herrschaft über alles aus.

Word by Word

• एकैकम्: each one (individually)
• एकैकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (एकं च एकं च = प्रत्येकम्)

• बहुधा: in many ways
• बहुधा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'in many ways')

• जालम्: net / web
• जालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• विकुर्वन्: transforming / modifying
• विकुर्वन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √कृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; यः इति कर्तरि विशेषणवत्

• एकवत्: as one
• एकवत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकवत् (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमानार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'as one')

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

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• सर्वाधिपत्यम्: sovereignty over all
• सर्वाधिपत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + अधिपत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषाम् अधिपत्यम्)

• कुरुते: does / exercises
• कुरुते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• सृष्ट्वा: having created
• सृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सृज् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): 'having created'

• सर्वान्: all (beings)
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; (जनान्/भूतान् इति अध्याहृत-विशेष्य)

• प्रतापवान्: mighty
• प्रतापवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतापवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; यः इति कर्तरि विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmic emanation/creation (sṛṣṭi) implied

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva (Pati) alone is the supreme cause and ruler: He manifests the many without losing His oneness, showing both transcendence and immanence—key to liberation-oriented Shaiva understanding.

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

The Linga points to the One reality that underlies all forms; worship of Saguna Shiva honors the same Lord who appears as the universe’s manifold “net,” while remaining the single, supreme consciousness beyond it.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as both One and many while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and contemplate the world as His manifestation without mistaking it as independent of Him.