Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 31

पञ्चकृत्यलक्षणनिर्णयः

Definition of Śiva’s Five Cosmic Acts—Pañcakṛtya

Devanagari script

सकलाकलरूपाय शंभवे गुरवे नमः । इति स्तुत्वा गुरुं पद्यैर्ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च नेमतुः

Transliteration

sakalākalarūpāya śaṃbhave gurave namaḥ | iti stutvā guruṃ padyairbrahmā viṣṇuśca nematuḥ

Translation

顶礼圣师商布（Śambhu），其本性既具分相（显现）亦无分相（超越）。如是以偈颂赞叹导师之后，梵天与毗湿奴俯首礼拜。

Word by Word

• sakala-akala-rūpāya: to the one whose form is both manifest and unmanifest
• sakala-akala-rūpāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala + akala + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Dative (4th/चतुर्थी); Singular; द्वन्द्व-समास (सकलं च अकलं च) + rūpa; 'having both manifest and unmanifest forms'

• śaṃbhave: to Śambhu
• śaṃbhave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Dative (4th/चतुर्थी); Singular

• gurave: to the Guru
• gurave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Dative (4th/चतुर्थी); Singular

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; salutation

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• stutvā: having praised
• stutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √stu (स्तु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त); indicates prior action

• gurum: the guru
• gurum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया); Singular

• padyaiḥ: with verses
• padyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया); Plural

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक; Brahmā)
• Form: Masculine; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा); Singular

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा); Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• nematuḥ: they two bowed
• nematuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nam (नम्)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्); Parasmaipada; 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष); Dual (द्विवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It affirms Śiva as the supreme Guru who is simultaneously transcendent (akala/nirguṇa) and immanent (sakala/saguṇa), and shows even Brahmā and Viṣṇu attaining right orientation through humble reverence to that Guru-principle.

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

Calling Śiva “sakala–akala” supports Linga worship as a bridge: the Linga is a manifest support for devotion (sakala) that points the devotee toward the partless Absolute (akala) beyond all limiting forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse suggests stuti (hymnic praise) and namaskāra (prostration) to Śiva as Guru—practically expressed through japa of a Śiva-mantra (especially the Pañcākṣarī) along with devotional recitation and reverent bowing.