Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1

सर्‍वेश्वर-परमकारण-निरूपणम् / The Supreme Lord as the Uncaused Cause

Devanagari script

जीवैरेभिरिमांल्लोकान्सर्वानीशो य ईशते

Transliteration

jīvairebhirimāṃllokānsarvānīśo ya īśate

Translation

ഈ ജീവന്മാരുടെ മുഖേന സർവ്വ ലോകങ്ങളെയും ഭരിക്കുന്നവൻ ആ പരമേശ്വരൻ തന്നെയാണ്.

Word by Word

• जीवैः: by/with living beings (souls)
• जीवैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• एभिः: by these
• एभिः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• इमान्: these
• इमान्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• लोकान्: worlds
• लोकान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• ईशः: the Lord
• ईशः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: सम्बन्ध (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ईशते: rules / governs
• ईशते: क्रिया (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames governance of worlds as īśvaratva (lordship) operating through embodied jīvas; supports the Siddhānta view of Śiva as inner ruler (antaryāmin) and dispenser of karmaphala.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms Shiva as Pati (the supreme Lord) who governs the cosmos while the jīvas function as instruments within His divine order—highlighting dependence of the soul on the Lord for direction and liberation.

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

By declaring Shiva as Īśa (the ruling Lord), it supports Saguna worship of Shiva—especially in Linga form—as the accessible focus for devotion to the very Governor of all worlds and all embodied beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as Īśvara (inner ruler) while repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering the sense of doership to Him as the true governor acting through all jīvas.