Shloka 23
सर्वथा सुसमर्थो हि स शिवस्सकलेश्वरः । कुलिपेरपि विध्वंसी ब्रह्माधीनस्त्वकप्रदः
sarvathā susamartho hi sa śivassakaleśvaraḥ | kuliperapi vidhvaṃsī brahmādhīnastvakapradaḥ
Indeed, Śiva is in every way fully capable—the Lord of all embodied existence. He is the destroyer even of Kulipera, yet He remains under Brahmā’s ordinance as the bestower of the fruit of actions.
Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, inferred from Purāṇic dialogue convention in the Rudrasaṃhitā)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
The verse presents Śiva as Sakaleśvara—sovereign over the entire manifested order—who can dissolve even formidable beings, yet who also administers karma-phala through cosmic law, showing His lordship over both dissolution and moral order.
As Saguna Śiva (the Lord with attributes who governs the universe), He is worshipped in the Liṅga as the visible focus of devotion; the verse supports Liṅga-worship by portraying Him as the active Lord who grants results and removes obstacles through His grace.
A practical takeaway is karma-śuddhi through devotion: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Liṅga-pūjā, offering water and bilva leaves, dedicating all actions to Śiva as the giver of karma’s fruits.