Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga

Devanagari script

परमाकाशमध्यस्थं परमात्मोपरि स्थितं । सर्वैश्वर्येण संपन्नं सर्वेश्वरमनीश्वरम्

Transliteration

paramākāśamadhyasthaṃ paramātmopari sthitaṃ | sarvaiśvaryeṇa saṃpannaṃ sarveśvaramanīśvaram

Translation

Er weilt mitten im höchsten Äther, gegründet jenseits sogar des höchsten Selbst. Mit aller Souveränität erfüllt, ist Er der Herr über alles; und doch ist Er selbst niemandem unterworfen.

Word by Word

• परमाकाशमध्यस्थम्: situated in the midst of the supreme space
• परमाकाशमध्यस्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम-आकाश-मध्य-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक; परम + आकाश + मध्य + स्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘परमाकाशस्य मध्ये स्थितः’ (situated in the middle of the supreme ether)

• परमात्म-उपरि: above the Supreme Self
• परमात्म-उपरि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परम-आत्मन् + उपरि (प्रातिपदिक + अव्यय)
• Form: ‘उपरि’ अव्यय (adverb/postposition: above/upon) with षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध implied: ‘परमात्मनः उपरि’

• स्थितम्: abiding/placed
• स्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘placed/abiding’

• सर्वैश्वर्येण: with all sovereignty/powers
• सर्वैश्वर्येण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + ऐश्वर्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; ‘by/with all lordly powers’

• सम्पन्नम्: endowed
• सम्पन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√पद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘endowed/possessed’

• सर्वेश्वरम्: Lord of all
• सर्वेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘सर्वेषां ईश्वरः’

• अनीश्वरम्: having no overlord; independent
• अनीश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; अ + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘not subject to any lord / having no overlord’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares Shiva as Pati—the unsurpassed Lord—transcendent, all-pervading like the supreme ether, and yet beyond all limiting categories, establishing Him as the ultimate refuge for liberation.

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

Though Shiva is described as beyond all (anīśvara—without any superior), devotees approach that same Supreme through the accessible Saguna form of the Linga, where the infinite Lord is worshipped with devotion and reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as all-pervading and sovereign while repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” visualizing Him as established in the boundless inner space (ākāśa) of consciousness.