Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 31

कालमान-निर्णयः

Determination of the Measures of Time

Devanagari script

यस्यैवाज्ञाधीनमेतत्समस्तं नमस्तस्मै महते शंकराय

Transliteration

yasyaivājñādhīnametatsamastaṃ namastasmai mahate śaṃkarāya

Translation

Tout cet univers demeure uniquement sous son commandement ; salutations à ce grand Śaṅkara, le Seigneur de bon augure, le Pati suprême qui gouverne tout.

Word by Word

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• आज्ञा-अधीनम्: subject to (his) command
• आज्ञा-अधीनम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक) + अधीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः = 'dependent on (his) command'

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• समस्तम्: entire/all
• समस्तम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; एतत्-विशेषण

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग)
• Form: नमस्-शब्दः अव्ययवत्; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात (salutatory particle), प्रायः चतुर्थी-सम्बन्धेन

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• महते: great
• महते: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; तस्मै-विशेषण

• शंकराय: to Śaṅkara
• शंकराय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: नमस्तस्मै महते शंकराय

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches īśvaratva (Lordship): the cosmos functions under Śiva’s sovereign command, so liberation begins with surrender (śaraṇāgati) and devotion to the supreme Pati.

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

The verse supports Saguna worship as a doorway to the highest truth: by bowing to Śaṅkara—often approached through the Śiva-liṅga—one aligns with the Lord who governs the universe and grants grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily namaskāra with japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), cultivating inner surrender to Śiva’s ājñā (divine command) as a core meditation.