Shloka 9

Śivāṣṭamūrti-varṇanam

Description of Shiva’s Eight Forms

Devanagari script

सर्वात्मनामधिष्ठानं सर्वक्षेत्रनिवासकम् । रूपं पशुपतेर्ज्ञेयं पशुपाशनिकृन्तनम्

Transliteration

sarvātmanāmadhiṣṭhānaṃ sarvakṣetranivāsakam | rūpaṃ paśupaterjñeyaṃ paśupāśanikṛntanam

Translation

Know this to be the form of Paśupati: the sustaining ground of all selves, dwelling in every field of existence, and the One who cuts asunder the bonds (pāśas) that bind the individual souls (paśus).

Word by Word

• सर्वात्मनाम्: of all selves/beings
• सर्वात्मनाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative)

• अधिष्ठानम्: support, substratum
• अधिष्ठानम्: विशेष्य/विधेय (Predicate nominative/accusative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिष्ठान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• सर्वक्षेत्रनिवासकम्: dwelling in all fields/realms
• सर्वक्षेत्रनिवासकम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + क्षेत्र + निवासक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (determinative)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• पशुपतेः: of Paśupati
• पशुपतेः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशुपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• ज्ञेयम्: to be known
• ज्ञेयम्: विधेय (Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘ज्ञातव्यम्’ (to be known)

• पशुपाशनिकृन्तनम्: cutter of the bonds of beings
• पशुपाशनिकृन्तनम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पशु + पाश + नि + कृन्त् (धातु) + अन (प्रातिपदिक-निर्माण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (determinative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it is a doctrinal definition of Paśupati as the indwelling Lord of all kṣetras who severs pāśa (bondage).

Significance: Directly expresses the Pati-Paśu-Pāśa framework: pilgrimage and worship aim at pāśa-cheda (cutting bondage) through Paśupati’s anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines Shiva as Paśupati—the inner support of all beings and the liberator who destroys the soul’s bondage (pāśa), pointing to liberation (moksha) as Shiva’s grace removing ignorance and karmic limitation.

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

The Linga and other saguna forms are worshipped as the accessible manifestation of the all-pervading Paśupati; devotion to the form leads the devotee to realize Shiva as the substratum present in every kṣetra (body, world, and shrine).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as indwelling in all kṣetras while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), praying specifically for pāśa-cheda (cutting of bondage); accompanying worship with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa supports this intent.