Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

शिवस्तुतिवर्णनम् (Śiva-stuti-varṇanam) — “Description of Hymns in Praise of Śiva”

Devanagari script

सर्वतः पाणिपादांतं सर्वतोक्षिशिरोमुखम् । सर्वतश्श्रवणघ्राणं त्वां नमामि च सर्वतः

Transliteration

sarvataḥ pāṇipādāṃtaṃ sarvatokṣiśiromukham | sarvataśśravaṇaghrāṇaṃ tvāṃ namāmi ca sarvataḥ

Translation

Je me prosterne devant Toi de toutes parts : Toi dont les mains et les pieds s’étendent en toutes directions ; dont les yeux, la tête et les visages sont de chaque côté ; dont l’ouïe et l’odorat pénètrent tout. À Toi, présent partout et en toute manière, j’offre mon hommage.

Word by Word

• सर्वतः: everywhere/on all sides
• सर्वतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/व्याप्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/व्याप्त्यर्थ (adverb: 'on all sides')

• पाणिपादान्तम्: having hands and feet as extremities (i.e., pervading with hands/feet)
• पाणिपादान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाणि + पाद + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व-तत्पुरुष (पाणि-पादयोः अन्तः/पर्यन्तः) ; विशेषणम् (त्वाम्)

• सर्वतः: everywhere
• सर्वतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/व्याप्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; व्याप्त्यर्थ

• अक्षिशिरोमुखम्: having eyes, heads, and faces everywhere
• अक्षिशिरोमुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षि + शिरस् + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (अक्षीणि च शिरांसि च मुखानि च) ; विशेषणम् (त्वाम्)

• सर्वतः: everywhere
• सर्वतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/व्याप्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; व्याप्त्यर्थ

• श्रवणघ्राणम्: having hearing and smell (everywhere)
• श्रवणघ्राणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रवण + घ्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (श्रवणं च घ्राणं च) ; विशेषणम् (त्वाम्)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• नमामि: I bow
• नमामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सर्वतः: from all sides/in every way
• सर्वतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/व्याप्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; व्याप्त्यर्थ

Speaker

A devotee/warrior addressing Lord Shiva in praise (as narrated by Sūta Gosvāmin in the Rudrasaṃhitā, Yuddhakhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Meditation on Śiva’s sarvavyāpitva (all-pervasion) dissolves the devotee’s sense of separateness and supports inner pilgrimage (mānasa-yātrā) to the Lord present in all places.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: सर्वतः पाणिपादांतं सर्वतोक्षिशिरोमुखम् । सर्वतश्श्रवणघ्राणं त्वां नमामि च सर्वतः

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse praises Shiva as sarvavyāpin—present in all directions and within all faculties of knowing—teaching that the Supreme (Pati) transcends limitation while also pervading the cosmos, making sincere devotion possible anywhere and at any time.

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

Though Shiva is described as all-pervading (a nirguṇa implication), the devotee still offers namaskāra to “You,” supporting saguna upāsanā: the Liṅga becomes the accessible focus through which one worships the omnipresent Lord who is not confined to any single form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice all-directional remembrance (sarvataḥ-smaraṇa): mentally bow to Shiva in the ten directions, then meditate that all senses and perceptions rest in Him—optionally while repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and offering bhasma as a sign of surrender.