Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 57

पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः

Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge

Devanagari script

अनेकदेहभेदेन भिन्ना वृत्तिरिहात्मनः । अष्टापदपरिक्षेपे ह्यक्षमुद्रेव लक्ष्यते

Transliteration

anekadehabhedena bhinnā vṛttirihātmanaḥ | aṣṭāpadaparikṣepe hyakṣamudreva lakṣyate

Translation

هنا تبدو حركةُ الروحِ منقسمةً لاختلاف الأجساد الكثيرة؛ كما في إلقاء الرقعة ذات المربعات الثمانية، يُدرَكُ أثرُ نَقْشٍ واحدٍ للنرد كأنه يظهر على وجوهٍ شتّى.

Word by Word

• अनेकदेहभेदेन: by the distinction of many bodies
• अनेकदेहभेदेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aneka (प्रातिपदिक) + deha (प्रातिपदिक) + bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘अनेकानां देहानां भेदः’); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• भिन्ना: divided/different
• भिन्ना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhid (धातु) → भिन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘वृत्तिः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वृत्तिः: activity/function
• वृत्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालवाचक (here/in this world)

• आत्मनः: of the Self
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• अष्टापदपरिक्षेपे: in the casting/throwing of the aṣṭāpada (dice-board)
• अष्टापदपरिक्षेपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭā-pada (प्रातिपदिक) + parikṣepa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘अष्टापदस्य परिक्षेपः’); पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ-निपात (indeclinable: for/indeed)

• अक्षमुद्रा: a die-mark/mark of a die
• अक्षमुद्रा: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + mudrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘अक्षस्य मुद्रा’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (comparative particle)

• लक्ष्यते: is perceived/appears
• लक्ष्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: lakṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

It teaches that the one conscious self seems to have many different behaviors only because it is associated with many bodies and conditions; this apparent multiplicity is a perception shaped by embodiment, not the soul’s ultimate nature.

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

By pointing to the soul’s mistaken sense of division, the verse supports Linga-worship as a stabilizing focus on Pati (Shiva) who is unitary and transcendent; devotion to Saguna Shiva purifies the pashu’s perception and loosens pasha (bondage).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is meditative self-inquiry with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), contemplating that changing bodily states are like ‘throws’ in a game, while the witnessing awareness is steady—supported by Tripundra and Rudraksha as aids to Shaiva recollection.