Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

शिवस्तुतिवर्णनम् (Śiva-stuti-varṇanam) — “Description of Hymns in Praise of Śiva”

Devanagari script

विश्वदेवमनाद्यंतं षट्त्रिंशत्कमनीश्वरम् । प्रवर्तकं च सर्वेषां त्वां नमामि च सर्वतः

Transliteration

viśvadevamanādyaṃtaṃ ṣaṭtriṃśatkamanīśvaram | pravartakaṃ ca sarveṣāṃ tvāṃ namāmi ca sarvataḥ

Translation

Sumasamba ako sa Iyo—Diyos ng sansinukob—na walang simula at walang wakas; ang Panginoong nahahayag bilang pangkat ng tatlumpu’t anim na tattva, ngunit ang Sarili Mo’y walang nakahihigit na pinuno. Ikaw ang tagapag-udyok at tagapagpasimula ng lahat; mula sa bawat panig at sa lahat ng paraan, iniaalay ko sa Iyo ang aking pagyukod.

Word by Word

• viśva-devam: the all-god; god of all
• viśva-devam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• anādi-antam: without beginning and end
• anādi-antam: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anādi (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adjective qualifying tvām (you)

• ṣaṭ-triṃśat-kam: thirty-six-fold / consisting of thirty-six (tattvas)
• ṣaṭ-triṃśat-kam: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭtriṃśat (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + ka (प्रत्ययान्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; numeral-adjective (dvigu) qualifying tvām

• mahā-īśvaram: the great Lord
• mahā-īśvaram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• pravartakam: the initiator/impeller
• pravartakam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pra√vṛt (धातु) + ṇvul/aka (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; kṛdanta agent-noun (कर्तृवाचक)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction/समुच्चय-निपात)

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (or sarva as pronoun), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun/सर्वनाम), Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• namāmi: I bow (to)
• namāmi: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nam (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present/लट्), Uttama-puruṣa (1st person/उत्तमपुरुष), Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samucchaya-nipāta (conjunction/समुच्चय-निपात)

• sarvataḥ: from all sides; in every way
• sarvataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the hymn of praise in the Yuddha Khanda context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: This verse explicitly aligns with the Siddhānta map of reality: Śiva as the transcendent Lord of the 36 tattvas. Pilgrimage here is primarily doctrinal—recognizing the Lord as tattva-adhīśa loosens identification with lower tattvas (pāśa).

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: विश्वदेवमनाद्यंतं षट्त्रिंशत्कमनीश्वरम् । प्रवर्तकं च सर्वेषां त्वां नमामि च सर्वतः

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa-level cosmogenesis implied by ‘pravartaka’ (impeller of all) and tattva-manifestation

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse affirms Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord who is beginningless and endless—while also being the source and governor of the entire field of existence (the tattvas). Devotion here matures into insight: all movement in life is ultimately impelled by Shiva, so surrender leads toward liberation.

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

Calling Shiva the universal God and the initiator of all supports Saguna worship (Linga, form, mantra) as a direct approach to the same reality that is beyond beginning and end. The Linga symbolizes that limitless Shiva who pervades all directions (sarvataḥ).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is directional, all-pervading remembrance of Shiva—repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with full surrender—paired with simple Shaiva observances like applying Tripundra (bhasma) and offering salutations in all directions, recognizing Shiva as the inner initiator.