Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 13

योगाचार्यरूपेण शर्वावताराः (Śarva’s manifestations as Yoga-Teachers)

Devanagari script

लंबोदरश्च लंबश्च लम्बात्मा लंबकेशकः । सर्वज्ञस्समबुद्धिश्च साध्यसिद्धिस्तथैव च

Transliteration

laṃbodaraśca laṃbaśca lambātmā laṃbakeśakaḥ | sarvajñassamabuddhiśca sādhyasiddhistathaiva ca

Translation

祂是大腹者；崇高者；其本体广大无边者；长发飘垂者。祂全知无碍，于一切境界心平等；祂既是可证得之目标，亦是已圆满之成就。

Word by Word

• लम्बोदरः: the pot-bellied/long-bellied one
• लम्बोदरः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लम्ब + उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (लम्बं उदरं यस्य/लम्ब-उदरः)

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

• लम्बः: the tall/long one
• लम्बः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• लम्बात्मा: one of lofty nature/long-bodied
• लम्बात्मा: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लम्ब + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (लम्बः आत्मा यस्य/लम्ब-आत्मा)

• लम्बकेशकः: the long-haired one
• लम्बकेशकः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लम्ब + केशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (लम्बाः केशाः यस्य/लम्ब-केशकः)

• सर्वज्ञः: omniscient
• सर्वज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (सर्वं जानाति/सर्व-ज्ञः)

• समबुद्धिः: one with even-mindedness
• समबुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (समा बुद्धिः यस्य/सम-बुद्धिः)

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

• साध्यसिद्धिः: attainment of the attainable / accomplishment
• साध्यसिद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्य + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: साध्यस्य सिद्धिः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: in that manner/likewise)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

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

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?

The verse functions as a contemplative listing of Shiva’s qualities: His omniscience, equanimity, and transcendence of all dualities. In Shaiva Siddhanta, this points to Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord—who is both the ultimate aim of practice and the one who grants the fruition of liberation.

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

These epithets support Saguna-upasana: devotees meditate on Shiva’s auspicious attributes while worshipping the Linga. The Linga becomes the focal support for realizing that the Lord who is worshipped as form and name is also the all-knowing, impartial reality beyond limitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with dhyana on Shiva as sarvajña (all-knowing) and samabuddhi (even-minded) is implied; mentally offer the fruits of practice to Him, recognizing Him as both the sādhya (goal) and siddhi (attainment).