Shloka 20

Śiva-jñāna and the Non-dual Vision of a Śiva-maya Universe (शिवज्ञानम्—सर्वं शिवमयम्)

Devanagari script

सर्वं शिवः शिवं सर्वं नास्ति भेदश्च कश्चन । कथं च विविधं पश्यत्येकत्वं च कथं पुनः

Transliteration

sarvaṃ śivaḥ śivaṃ sarvaṃ nāsti bhedaśca kaścana | kathaṃ ca vividhaṃ paśyatyekatvaṃ ca kathaṃ punaḥ

Translation

一切皆是湿婆，湿婆即是一切；毫无差别可言。既然如此，人又怎能见到种种多相——又怎能真正证知实相的一体性？

Word by Word

• सर्वम्: all (everything)
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्व-शब्दः (sarva)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• शिवम्: Śiva (as the auspicious reality)
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विधेय/समासार्थे ‘शिवं’ (as ‘auspicious/Śiva-nature’)

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति-बलात् सर्वव्याप्तिः

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

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भेदः: difference
• भेदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• कश्चन: any (whatsoever)
• कश्चन: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रत्यययुक्तः (indefinite pronoun)

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

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

• विविधम्: variegated, diverse
• विविधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• पश्यति: sees
• पश्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एकत्वम्: oneness
• एकत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

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

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• पुनः: again; then
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्ति-अव्यय (adverb: again/how then)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s non-dual teaching within the Kotirudrasaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches Shiva-tattva: when consciousness is purified, the seeker recognizes Śiva as the inner reality of all, and the sense of separation (bheda) collapses, leading toward liberation.

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

The Liṅga is a sacred focus for the mind to move from form (saguṇa upāsanā) to the formless essence (nirguṇa Śiva). By steady worship, the devotee learns to see the same Śiva present in all forms, not only in the shrine.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with dhyāna that every perception is pervaded by Śiva; support it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as aids to remembrance and inner steadiness.