Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21

Śiva’s Freedom from Bondage and His Cosmic Support (शिवस्य अबन्धत्वं तथा सर्वाधिष्ठानत्वम्)

Devanagari script

ऐश्वर्यमप्रतिद्वंद्वं सुखमात्यन्तिकं बलम् । तेजःप्रभावो वीर्यं च क्षमा कारुण्यमेव च

Transliteration

aiśvaryamapratidvaṃdvaṃ sukhamātyantikaṃ balam | tejaḥprabhāvo vīryaṃ ca kṣamā kāruṇyameva ca

Translation

比類なき自在（主権）、究極にして尽きぬ安楽、力。輝く光威、勇猛なる霊力。さらに赦しと慈悲——これらがここに説かれる神聖なる徳である。

Word by Word

• aiśvaryam: sovereignty, lordship
• aiśvaryam: Karta/Viśeṣya (कर्ता/विशेष्य—enumerated attribute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• apratidvandvam: unrivalled, without an opponent
• apratidvandvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-prati-dvandva (प्रातिपदिक; nañ + prati + dvandva)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying aiśvaryam

• sukham: happiness
• sukham: Karta/Viśeṣya (कर्ता/विशेष्य—enumerated attribute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ātyantikam: absolute, ultimate
• ātyantikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātyantika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying sukham

• balam: strength
• balam: Karta/Viśeṣya (कर्ता/विशेष्य—enumerated attribute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tejaḥ-prabhāvaḥ: splendour’s power/effulgent influence
• tejaḥ-prabhāvaḥ: Karta/Viśeṣya (कर्ता/विशेष्य—enumerated attribute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas + prabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: 'prabhāva of tejas'

• vīryam: valour, potency
• vīryam: Karta/Viśeṣya (कर्ता/विशेष्य—enumerated attribute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय—connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• kṣamā: forbearance, forgiveness
• kṣamā: Karta/Viśeṣya (कर्ता/विशेष्य—enumerated attribute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣamā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kāruṇyam: compassion
• kāruṇyam: Karta/Viśeṣya (कर्ता/विशेष्य—enumerated attribute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāruṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण—emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle of emphasis (निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय—connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse lists divine attributes that point to Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord whose sovereignty and bliss are unsurpassed, and whose power is inseparable from grace expressed as forgiveness and compassion, guiding the soul toward liberation.

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

In Saguna worship, the Linga is revered as the accessible sign of Shiva’s majesty and radiance; meditating on these qualities while offering water, bilva, and mantra internalizes Shiva’s lordship and compassion in the devotee’s heart.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while contemplating Shiva’s tejas (radiance) and kāruṇya (compassion), along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as reminders of forbearance and inner strength.