Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

सत्रप्रवृत्तिः — वायोः आगमनं च

Commencement of the Satra and the Arrival of Vāyu

Devanagari script

सोप्यस्माननुगृह्याह शरण्यश्शरणागतान् । सर्वस्मादधिको रुद्रो विप्राः परमकारणम्

Transliteration

sopyasmānanugṛhyāha śaraṇyaśśaraṇāgatān | sarvasmādadhiko rudro viprāḥ paramakāraṇam

Translation

随后，他也怜悯我们这些前来归依者，如是开示：“婆罗门啊，鲁陀罗超越一切；他是至上的根本因。”

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) ‘also/even’

• asmān: us
• asmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• anugṛhya: having favored
• anugṛhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + grah (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘अनुग्रहं कृत्वा’

• āha: said
• āha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• śaraṇyaḥ: the protector/refuge-giver
• śaraṇyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaraṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• śaraṇa-āgatān: those who have sought refuge
• śaraṇa-āgatān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āgata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ‘शरणम् आगताः’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• sarvasmāt: than all/from all
• sarvasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• adhikaḥ: superior
• adhikaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तुलनार्थक (comparative sense with ablative)

• rudraḥ: Rudra
• rudraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• viprāḥ: O brāhmaṇas
• viprāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा (vocative/nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे

• parama-kāraṇam: the supreme cause
• parama-kāraṇam: Pradhāna/Viśeṣya (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ‘परमं कारणम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (वाक्ये विधेय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It establishes Rudra (Śiva) as the Paramakāraṇa—the ultimate causal reality (Pati) who, out of grace, protects and uplifts those who surrender, pointing the seeker toward liberation through divine anugraha (grace).

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

Calling Rudra the Supreme Cause supports Saguna worship—such as Śiva-liṅga pūjā—as a valid means to approach the transcendent Lord; the liṅga becomes the accessible focus through which the refuge-giving Śiva bestows grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) expressed through daily Śiva worship—japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with simple liṅga-abhisheka and remembrance of Śiva as Śaraṇya (protector).