Shloka 46
पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा
Praise of Water-Gift and the Construction of Wells and Tanks
अपि सर्वेश्वरः स्थाणुर्विष्णु श्चैव सनातनः । ब्रह्मा हुताशनः शक्रो ये चान्ये तपसान्विताः
api sarveśvaraḥ sthāṇurviṣṇu ścaiva sanātanaḥ | brahmā hutāśanaḥ śakro ye cānye tapasānvitāḥ
Even Sthāṇu, the Lord of all, and Viṣṇu the Eternal; Brahmā, Agni, Indra, and all other beings endowed with tapas—each is encompassed by this truth and stands subordinate to the Supreme Lord.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Śiva Purāṇa discourse to the sages, Umāsaṃhitā context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific (sthala) passage; the verse asserts a pan-Indian hierarchy where even major deities (Viṣṇu, Brahmā, Indra, Agni) fall under the Supreme Lord, aligning with Purāṇic Śiva-tattva supremacy rather than a localized Jyotirliṅga origin.
Significance: Frames all devatās and tapasvins as subordinate to the Supreme; supports the Śaiva Siddhānta orientation that worship of Pati (Śiva) is the direct means to liberation beyond heavenly attainments.
FAQs
It affirms the Siddhānta view of Pati (Śiva) as Sarveśvara: even the highest devas and great tapasvins operate within His sovereignty, so liberation is ultimately grounded in Śiva’s grace rather than mere power or austerity.
By naming the foremost gods and ascetics, the verse points to one supreme Lord worthy of final refuge; in practice this is approached as Saguna Śiva—most directly through Liṅga worship—while recognizing His transcendence beyond all forms.
Take refuge in Śiva through steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and regular Liṅga-pūjā; tapas is honored, but it is fulfilled when directed as devotion to Sarveśvara.