Shloka 53

Kāla-vañcana (Overcoming/Outwitting Time) and the Pañcabhūta Basis of the Body

Devanagari script

सर्वज्ञस्सर्वदर्शी च कामरूपी व्रजत्यसौ । न विकारैः प्रयुज्येत शिव एव न संशयः

Transliteration

sarvajñassarvadarśī ca kāmarūpī vrajatyasau | na vikāraiḥ prayujyeta śiva eva na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

彼全知全见，随愿现一切形相，行遍诸方；然终不为诸变异（vikāra）所系缚。唯彼即是湿婆（Śiva），此无疑也。

Word by Word

• सर्वज्ञः: all-knowing
• सर्वज्ञः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण of असौ; समास: सर्वं जानाति (upapada/tatpurusha sense)

• सर्वदर्शी: all-seeing
• सर्वदर्शी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-दर्शिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण of असौ; समास: सर्वं पश्यति (tatpurusha sense)

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

• कामरूपी: able to assume any desired form
• कामरूपी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम-रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण of असौ; समास: कामं रूपं यस्य (descriptive)

• व्रजति: goes/moves
• व्रजति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• असौ: he/that one
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• विकारैः: by modifications/defects
• विकारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; करण

• प्रयुज्येत: should be affected/tainted
• प्रयुज्येत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (should be affected/engaged)

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

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

• न: no/not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; भाववाचक

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Doctrinal proclamation rather than place-myth: Śiva is sarvajña/sarvadarśin and yet untouched by vikāra—key for distinguishing Pati from paśu/pāśa.

Significance: Reinforces darśana-bhāva: the pilgrim seeks the all-seeing Lord who pervades all forms yet remains transcendent; supports faith in Śiva’s omniscience and salvific oversight.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord): omniscient and omnipresent, able to manifest freely, yet untouched by worldly change—pointing the seeker toward the changeless Reality as the basis of liberation.

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

Though Śiva is beyond vikāra (nirguṇa in essence), He compassionately appears in worshipful forms—especially the Liṅga—so devotees can approach the transcendent through a sacred, saguna support without reducing Him to material limitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the witness beyond change while doing japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); in pūjā, honor the Liṅga as the stable symbol of the changeless Lord amid all shifting experiences.