Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 42

शिवाश्रम-नित्यनैमित्तिककर्मविधिः / Śaiva Āśrama-Duties: Daily and Occasional Rites

Morning Purity & Bath Procedure

Devanagari script

संसारवैद्यस्सर्वज्ञः परमात्मेति चाष्टकम् । अथवा शिवमेवैकं जपित्वैकादशाधिकम्

Transliteration

saṃsāravaidyassarvajñaḥ paramātmeti cāṣṭakam | athavā śivamevaikaṃ japitvaikādaśādhikam

Translation

“संसारवैद्य, सर्वज्ञ, परमात्मा” इत्यादी अष्टक जपावे. किंवा “शिव” हे एकच नाम अकरा वेळा (आणि अधिक) जपावे.

Word by Word

• saṃsāra-vaidyas: physician of worldly existence
• saṃsāra-vaidyas: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃsāra (प्रातिपदिक) + vaidya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'of saṃsāra' + 'physician'

• sarvajñaḥ: omniscient
• sarvajñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: 'all' + 'knowing'

• paramātmā: Supreme Self
• paramātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: 'supreme' + 'self'

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• aṣṭakam: an octet (of names)
• aṣṭakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया) singular (एकवचन); here as object/complement: 'octad'

• athavā: or else
• athavā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: Alternative conjunction (विकल्पबोधक-अव्यय)

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) singular (एकवचन)

• eva: alone/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) of emphasis

• ekam: one/only
• ekam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) singular (एकवचन); agrees with śivam

• japitvā: having recited
• japitvā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jap (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा, ल्यबन्त)

• ekādaśa-adhikam: eleven times (more)
• ekādaśa-adhikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekādaśa (प्रातिपदिक) + adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'eleven' + 'more/exceeding' = 'elevenfold/eleven times' (as count/measure)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Name-japa of Śiva as 'saṃsāravaidya' is presented as a direct remedial upāya for bondage and suffering—pilgrimage-fruit is internalized as mantra-sādhana.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: saṃsāravaidyaḥ sarvajñaḥ paramātmā (… iti cāṣṭakam); athavā “śivam” eva ekam (ekādaśādhikam)

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation-oriented devotion can be simple: remembering Śiva as the omniscient Supreme Self and as the healer of saṃsāra, and practicing steady nāma-japa that turns the mind from bondage (pāśa) toward the Lord (Pati).

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

By prescribing japa of Śiva’s name and epithets, it supports Saguna upāsanā—approaching the transcendent Paramātmā through accessible forms such as the Liṅga and the divine name, which purify the devotee and mature devotion into true knowledge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Nāma-japa: recite an octad of Śiva-epithets or repeat “Śiva” at least eleven times, with focused attention and reverence—suitable as a daily practice and as a concise Mahāśivarātri observance.