Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38

शिवतत्त्ववर्णनम् (Śiva-tattva-varṇana) — “Description/Exposition of the Principle of Śiva”

Devanagari script

वस्तुवत्सर्वदृश्यं च शिवरूपम्मतम्मम । अहं भवानजश्चैव रुद्रो योऽयं भविष्यति

Transliteration

vastuvatsarvadṛśyaṃ ca śivarūpammatammama | ahaṃ bhavānajaścaiva rudro yo'yaṃ bhaviṣyati

Translation

«Selon mon avis, tout ce qui est vu—bien que paraissant une réalité objective—est véritablement de la forme de Śiva. Moi, toi, et aussi Aja (Brahmā) sommes Śiva; et celui-ci, qui deviendra Rudra, l’est également.»

Word by Word

• वस्तुवत्: as a real entity
• वस्तुवत्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वस्तु (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; उपमानवाचक अव्यय (like a thing/as real)

• सर्वदृश्यम्: all that is visible
• सर्वदृश्यम्: Vishaya (विषय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दृश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सर्वं दृश्यं), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• शिवरूपम्: of Śiva-nature
• शिवरूपम्: Vidheya (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शिवस्य रूपम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• मतम्: is considered
• मतम्: Vidheya (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘thought/considered’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (genitive: of me)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भवान्: you (sir)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अजः: Aja (the Unborn/Brahmā)
• अजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Brahmā/Unborn)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphasis: indeed/only)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (relative pronoun)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (demonstrative)

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (simple future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Shiva (as the Supreme Pati teaching during the creation narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmogonic unfolding (sṛṣṭi narrative context)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma (Aja)
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It teaches Shiva-darśana: the purification of perception by recognizing that all perceived reality depends upon and manifests the Lord’s presence, dissolving divisive ego-notions and supporting liberation (moksha).

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

Linga worship trains the mind to see one all-pervading Lord behind every form; this verse extends that insight from the shrine to the whole cosmos—everything seen is to be regarded as Shiva’s manifestation (Saguna expression of the Supreme).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Shiva-bhāvanā: during japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), contemplate that all beings and objects you perceive are pervaded by Shiva; support it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of Rudra-consciousness.