Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 22

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

सर्वदेवात्मकश्चासौ सर्वमंत्रमयो गुरुः । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन यस्याज्ञां शिरसा वहेत्

Transliteration

sarvadevātmakaścāsau sarvamaṃtramayo guruḥ | tasmātsarvaprayatnena yasyājñāṃ śirasā vahet

Translation

Ce Guru est en vérité l’essence de tous les dieux et l’incarnation de tous les mantras. C’est pourquoi, avec tous ses efforts, on doit porter son ordre sur sa tête, le tenant pour l’autorité suprême.

Word by Word

• सर्व-देव-आत्मकः: having the nature of all gods
• सर्व-देव-आत्मकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (बहुविध-निर्देशः: 'सर्वेषां देवानाम् आत्मा/स्वरूपम् यस्य' इत्यर्थे; व्यवहारतः विशेषण); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (आसौ/गुरुः)

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

• असौ: this (one)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; निर्देशार्थक (this/that person)

• सर्व-मन्त्र-मयः: consisting of all mantras
• सर्व-मन्त्र-मयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('सर्वैः मन्त्रैः मयः' = consisting of all mantras); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (गुरुः)

• गुरुः: guru
• गुरुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इति निपातवत् (ablatival adverbial use); पञ्चमी-एकवचन-रूपेण हेत्वर्थे (therefore/from that)

• सर्व-प्रयत्नेन: with all effort
• सर्व-प्रयत्नेन: Karana (करण/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('सर्वः प्रयत्नः' = all effort); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (with all effort)

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

• आज्ञाम्: command/permission
• आज्ञाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शिरसा: with (one's) head
• शिरसा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करण (by the head)

• वहेत्: should bear/carry (on the head)
• वहेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva teaching in the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches Guru-tattva: the true Shaiva Guru is revered as the living channel of divine grace and mantra-shakti, so the disciple advances by treating the Guru’s instruction as supreme and non-negotiable.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-upasana), the Guru gives the right method—mantra, nyasa, worship-rules, and inner attitude—so honoring the Guru’s command is presented as integral to correct and fruitful Shiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Consistent mantra-japa as instructed by the Guru (commonly the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with disciplined observance of the Guru’s prescribed worship routine; the emphasis is obedience and reverent practice rather than improvisation.