Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 33

शिवस्य विश्वव्याप्तिः—अष्टमूर्तिः पञ्चब्रह्म च | Śiva’s Cosmic Pervasion: Aṣṭamūrti and the Pañcabrahma Forms

Devanagari script

अष्टमूर्त्यात्मना विश्वमधिष्ठाय स्थितं शिवम् । भजस्व सर्वभावेन रुद्रः परमकारणम्

Transliteration

aṣṭamūrtyātmanā viśvamadhiṣṭhāya sthitaṃ śivam | bhajasva sarvabhāvena rudraḥ paramakāraṇam

Translation

अष्टमूर्ती-आत्मरूपाने विश्वाचे अधिष्ठान व धारण करणाऱ्या शिवाचे सर्वभावे भजन कर; कारण रुद्रच परम कारण, सर्वांचा परम पति आहे.

Word by Word

• अष्टमूर्त्यात्मना: by (his) eight-formed essence
• अष्टमूर्त्यात्मना: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट-मूर्ति-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘अष्टमूर्तिः आत्मा यस्य’ (whose essence is the eight-formed) — instrumental ‘by/with (his) eight-formed essence’

• विश्वम्: the universe
• विश्वम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अधिष्ठाय: having presided over
• अधिष्ठाय: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable); ‘having presided over’

• स्थितम्: abiding
• स्थितम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त → स्थित
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘शिवम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (standing/abiding)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: कर्म (Object; of ‘भजस्व’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भजस्व: worship/seek
• भजस्व: क्रिया (Verb; injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• सर्वभावेन: with all one’s being
• सर्वभावेन: करण (Instrument; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-भाव (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘सर्वेण भावेन’ (with whole-hearted disposition)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: कर्ता (Subject; implied ‘(is)’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परमकारणम्: the supreme cause
• परमकारणम्: विधेय (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-कारण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘परमं कारणम्’ (supreme cause)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva doctrine to the sages, Vayu Samhita philosophical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Doctrinal fruit: recognizing Rudra as paramakāraṇa and worshipping with sarvabhāva aligns the paśu toward Pati, preparing for pāśa-kṣaya and anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva is both immanent and transcendent: immanent as the eightfold cosmic presence (aṣṭamūrti) sustaining the world, and transcendent as Rudra, the supreme cause who grants liberation when worshipped with total devotion.

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

By affirming Śiva’s presence in all cosmic forms, it supports Saguna worship—especially Linga worship—as a focused symbol of the all-pervading Lord who upholds the universe while remaining the highest cause beyond it.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse emphasizes sarvabhāva-bhakti: wholehearted worship—practically expressed through daily Linga-pūjā with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra), Rudrākṣa, and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offered with complete inner surrender.