Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 27

अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace

Devanagari script

यत्सिद्धिरीश्वरत्वेन कार्यवर्गस्य कृत्स्नशः । न स चेदीशतां कुर्याज्जगतः कथमीश्वरः

Transliteration

yatsiddhirīśvaratvena kāryavargasya kṛtsnaśaḥ | na sa cedīśatāṃ kuryājjagataḥ kathamīśvaraḥ

Translation

もし「主（イーシュヴァラ）」としての成就が、あらゆる結果・作用の領域をことごとく完全に統御することにあるのなら、世界に対して主権を行使しない者を、どうして主と呼べようか。

Word by Word

• yat: that which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• siddhiḥ: accomplishment; success
• siddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• īśvaratvena: by (the state of) lordship
• īśvaratvena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara-tva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); abstract noun in -tva; tatpuruṣa: īśvara + tva

• kāryavargasya: of the class/group of effects (created things)
• kāryavargasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya-varga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: kārya + varga

• kṛtsnaśaḥ: entirely; wholly
• kṛtsnaśaḥ: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṛtsnaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning ‘entirely/wholly’

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• saḥ: he; that one
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• cet: if
• cet: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cet (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle (शर्त-निपात) = ‘if’

• īśatām: lordship; sovereignty
• īśatām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• kuryāt: should do; would exercise
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• jagataḥ: of the world
• jagataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• katham: how?
• katham: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्न-क्रियाविशेषण)

• īśvaraḥ: lord; ruler
• īśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Philosophical definition of īśvaratva: lordship is proven by complete mastery over kārya (effects/created categories). If lordship is not exercised over jagat, the title ‘Īśvara’ is incoherent.

Significance: Strengthens siddhānta-bhakti grounded in metaphysical clarity: Śiva is not a limited deity among others but the true Īśvara governing all effects.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines true Īśvaratva (Lordship) as real sovereignty over the entire field of effects (kārya)—the cosmos and its laws—affirming Shiva as Pati, the supreme governor whose power is not merely nominal but operative.

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

Linga worship honors Shiva as both transcendent and immanent: the formless supreme (beyond attributes) who also manifests lordship within the world as Saguna Īśvara, sustaining order and granting grace to bound souls.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as Īśvara while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating surrender (śaraṇāgati) to his governing will; this aligns the practitioner with divine order and supports liberation-oriented devotion.