Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

नैवास्य सदृशं वस्तु नाधिकं चापि किंचन । अतुलः सर्वभूतानां राजराजश्च तिष्ठति

Transliteration

naivāsya sadṛśaṃ vastu nādhikaṃ cāpi kiṃcana | atulaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ rājarājaśca tiṣṭhati

Translation

Tiada sesuatu pun yang setara dengan-Nya, dan tiada juga yang lebih tinggi. Tiada bandingan di antara segala makhluk, Dia berdiri sebagai Raja segala raja—Śiva, Pati (Tuhan) yang tertinggi, melampaui segala ukuran.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• अस्य: of him/of this (one)
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• सदृशम्: similar
• सदृशम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; अत्र 'वस्तु' विशेषणम्

• वस्तु: thing/entity
• वस्तु: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• अधिकम्: greater/superior
• अधिकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र 'वस्तु' (अनुवृत्त) विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अपि-अर्थ (even/also)

• किञ्चन: anything whatsoever
• किञ्चन: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite pronoun)

• अतुलः: incomparable
• अतुलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्व-भूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्व-भूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: सर्वेषां भूतानाम्

• राज-राजः: king of kings
• राज-राजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: राज्ञां राजा (king of kings)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तिष्ठति: stands/abides
• तिष्ठति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It proclaims Śiva’s unsurpassed supremacy as Pati—the incomparable Lord who transcends all beings and all hierarchies—inviting surrender, devotion, and the recognition that liberation comes by His grace rather than by any rival power.

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

By declaring that none is equal or greater, the verse supports Linga-worship as the unique, all-inclusive symbol of Śiva’s lordship—Saguna for devotion and meditation, yet pointing to the Nirguna reality that cannot be compared with any created form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as “atulaḥ” (incomparable) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating humility and single-pointed bhakti; offer bilva leaves or apply tripuṇḍra-bhasma as a reminder of His supreme sovereignty.