Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

शिवभावं समागम्य शिवयोगमथाचरेत् । कुर्यात्स्त्रिसन्ध्यमप्येवमेतत्पाशुपतं व्रतम्

Transliteration

śivabhāvaṃ samāgamya śivayogamathācaret | kuryātstrisandhyamapyevametatpāśupataṃ vratam

Translation

إذا دخل المرء في حال شيفا—مستغرقًا في وعيه—فليمارس بعد ذلك يوغا شيفا. وعلى هذا النحو، بإقامتها في السندهيا الثلاث اليومية (الفجر والظهيرة والغسق)، يلتزم نذر الباشوباتا.

Word by Word

• शिव-भावम्: the state/nature of Śiva
• शिव-भावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'शिवस्य भावः'

• समागम्य: having attained / having approached
• समागम्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• शिव-योगम्: Śiva-yoga (union/discipline of Śiva)
• शिव-योगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'शिवस्य योगः'

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• आचरेत्: should practice
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्रि-सन्ध्यम्: the three daily sandhyā rites
• त्रि-सन्ध्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + सन्ध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: 'तिस्रः सन्ध्याः' (three sandhyā-times)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (thus/in this manner)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally)

• पाशुपतम्: Pāśupata
• पाशुपतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation-oriented practice begins with śivabhāva—inner Shiva-consciousness—and is stabilized through disciplined Shiva-yoga performed consistently each day, reflecting the Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on transforming the soul (paśu) by grace-aligned practice toward the Lord (Pati).

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

The tri-sandhyā observance typically expresses itself as regular Saguna worship—often including Linga-pūjā, mantra-japa, and contemplative absorption—so that external devotion supports inner śivabhāva and matures into steady Shiva-yoga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Observe the Pāśupata vow by practicing Shiva-yoga at dawn, noon, and dusk—combining focused meditation on Shiva with daily worship rhythms (sandhyā), commonly supported by mantra-japa and purity disciplines.