Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 13

अर्धनारीश्वरप्रादुर्भावः

Manifestation of Ardhanārīśvara and the Impulse for Procreative Creation

Devanagari script

सर्वगं सर्वदं सर्वसदसद्व्यक्तिवर्जितम् । सर्वोपमाननिर्मुक्तं शरण्यं शाश्वतं शिवम्

Transliteration

sarvagaṃ sarvadaṃ sarvasadasadvyaktivarjitam | sarvopamānanirmuktaṃ śaraṇyaṃ śāśvataṃ śivam

Translation

Je prends refuge en Śiva l’Éternel : Celui qui pénètre tout, qui accorde tout, qui dépasse toute manifestation du « être » et du « non-être », affranchi de toute comparaison, refuge suprême de tous.

Word by Word

• सर्वगम्: all-pervading
• सर्वगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वत्र गच्छति/व्याप्नोति = all-pervading)

• सर्वदम्: giver of all
• सर्वदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वं ददाति = giver of all)

• सर्वसत्-असत्-व्यक्ति-वर्जितम्: devoid of (the categories of) manifest being and non-being
• सर्वसत्-असत्-व्यक्ति-वर्जितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + सत् + असत् + व्यक्ति + वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; वर्जित = PPP from √वर्ज् (to exclude), अर्थः: सत्-असत्-व्यक्तिभिः रहितम् (devoid of manifest existence/non-existence distinctions)

• सर्वोपमाननिर्मुक्तम्: free from all comparisons
• सर्वोपमाननिर्मुक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + उपमान + निर्मुक्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वैः उपमानैः निर्मुक्तम् = free from all comparisons); निर्मुक्त = PPP from √मुच् with निर्-

• शरण्यम्: worthy of refuge; refuge-giving
• शरण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शाश्वतम्: eternal
• शाश्वतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s supreme nature to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This verse is a nirguṇa-style refuge statement (śaraṇāgati) describing Śiva as beyond sat/asat and all upamāna (comparatives), so it functions as a universal theological preface rather than a site-specific Jyotirliṅga episode.

Significance: Frames pilgrimage as ultimately culminating in śaraṇāgati to the all-pervading Pati; external tīrtha is validated but subordinated to inner refuge in Śiva beyond manifestation.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It praises Shiva as Pati—the absolute, all-pervading Lord who transcends both “being” and “non-being,” teaching that liberation comes through taking refuge in Him beyond conceptual limits.

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

Though Shiva is described as beyond all comparisons and manifestations (nirguṇa), devotees approach Him through saguna supports like the Linga; the Linga points to the same all-pervading, incomparable reality praised here.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice śaraṇāgati (refuge) with japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—meditating on Shiva as all-pervading and beyond sat/asat, letting the mind drop comparisons and fixed notions.