Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासस्सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितः । सर्वस्य प्रभुरीशानः सर्वस्य शरणं सुहृत्

Transliteration

sarvendriyaguṇābhāsassarvendriyavivarjitaḥ | sarvasya prabhurīśānaḥ sarvasya śaraṇaṃ suhṛt

Translation

He appears as the qualities of all the senses, yet He is beyond all the senses. He is the Prabhu, Īśāna, sovereign Lord of all; the refuge of all beings, the ever-benevolent friend (suhṛt).

Word by Word

• सर्वेन्द्रिय-गुण-आभासः: the appearance of the qualities of all senses
• सर्वेन्द्रिय-गुण-आभासः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आभास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेन्द्रियाणां गुणानाम् आभासः)

• सर्वेन्द्रिय-विवर्जितः: devoid of all senses
• सर्वेन्द्रिय-विवर्जितः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √वृज्/वर्ज् with वि-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेन्द्रियैः विवर्जितः = devoid of all senses)

• सर्वस्य: of all
• सर्वस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• प्रभुः: lord/master
• प्रभुः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ईशानः: Īśāna (the Ruler)
• ईशानः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्वस्य: of all
• सर्वस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: प्रधानीय-विशेष्य (Predicate/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (predicate nominative)

• सुहृत्: well-wisher/friend
• सुहृत्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; हलन्त-प्रातिपदिक

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga māhātmya; it is a siddhānta-style apophatic/kataphatic synthesis: Śiva manifests as sensory qualities for the world yet remains sense-transcendent—grounding both icon worship and nirguṇa contemplation.

Significance: Encourages balanced worship: external pūjā (through senses) with inner recognition that Śiva is beyond sensory limitation; fosters mature śaraṇāgati to the ‘suhṛt’ Lord.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: sarvendriyaguṇābhāsaḥ sarvendriyavivarjitaḥ | sarvasya prabhur īśānaḥ sarvasya śaraṇaṃ suhṛt

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It states the Shaiva Siddhanta vision of Pati (Shiva) as both immanent and transcendent—present as the experienced world of sense-qualities, yet ultimately beyond sensory limitation—therefore the sure refuge for liberation.

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

The Linga supports Saguna worship (approaching Shiva with form and attributes), while the verse reminds the devotee that Shiva’s true nature is also beyond all sense-objects—so Linga worship matures into inner realization of the transcendent Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the inner ruler behind every sense-experience while japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering the senses into Him; this aligns devotion with yogic withdrawal (pratyāhāra) toward Shiva as the refuge.