Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

सर्वज्ञं सर्वतो व्यापिन् सर्वेश्वरमनावृतम् । विश्वरूपं विरूपाक्षं त्वां नमामि च सर्वतः

Transliteration

sarvajñaṃ sarvato vyāpin sarveśvaramanāvṛtam | viśvarūpaṃ virūpākṣaṃ tvāṃ namāmi ca sarvataḥ

Translation

Je me prosterne devant Toi—omniscient, tout-pénétrant, Seigneur de tout—sans voile ni entrave ; Toi dont la forme est l’univers, ô Virūpākṣa. De toutes parts et en toute manière, je T’adresse mes salutations.

Word by Word

• सर्वज्ञम्: all-knowing
• सर्वज्ञम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (सर्वं जानाति) ; विशेषणम् (त्वाम्)

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

• व्यापिन्: all-pervading
• व्यापिन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (कविप्रयोगे -इन्-प्रातिपदिकस्य रूपम्); विशेषणम् (त्वाम्)

• सर्वेश्वरम्: Lord of all
• सर्वेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वस्य ईश्वरः)

• अनावृतम्: uncovered/unveiled
• अनावृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + वृ (धातु)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (P.P.P.), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सर्वेश्वरम्/त्वाम्)

• विश्वरूपम्: of universal form
• विश्वरूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (विश्वं रूपं यस्य) ; विशेषणम् (त्वाम्)

• विरूपाक्षम्: the one with wondrous/unequal eyes (Virūpākṣa)
• विरूपाक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + रूप + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (विरूपे अक्षिणी यस्य) ; 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

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

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the hymn of praise within the Yuddhakhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Contemplating Śiva as sarvajña and anāvṛta (unveiled) counters pāśa (bondage) rooted in avidyā; it orients the seeker toward anugraha by seeking the Unconcealed Lord.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: सर्वज्ञं सर्वतो व्यापिन् सर्वेश्वरमनावृतम् । विश्वरूपं विरूपाक्षं त्वां नमामि च सर्वतः

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse affirms Śiva as Pati—the omniscient, all-pervading Lord beyond limitation—while also immanent as the universe (viśvarūpa). In Shaiva Siddhānta, such praise cultivates śaraṇāgati (surrender) and devotion that supports liberation through Śiva’s grace.

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

Calling Śiva ‘unobscured’ and ‘universal-form’ bridges Nirguṇa and Saguṇa: the Liṅga is a concrete focus for worship, yet it points to the all-pervading reality of Śiva who transcends every boundary. Thus Liṅga-pūjā becomes a doorway to realizing His limitless presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is directional salutation (sarvataḥ-namaskāra): mentally bow to Śiva in all directions while repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” visualizing Him as viśvarūpa (present in all beings and spaces).