Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 26

पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge

Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati

Devanagari script

पाकाद्यं च करोत्यग्निः परमेश्वरशासनात् । संजीवनाद्यं सर्वस्य कुर्वत्यापस्तदाज्ञया

Transliteration

pākādyaṃ ca karotyagniḥ parameśvaraśāsanāt | saṃjīvanādyaṃ sarvasya kurvatyāpastadājñayā

Translation

بأمرِ «باراميشڤارا» (الربّ شيفا) تقوم النارُ بالطبخ وما شابهه من الوظائف؛ وبالأمر نفسه تقوم المياهُ بإنعاش جميع الكائنات وإمدادها بالبقاء.

Word by Word

• pāka-ādyam: cooking and the like
• pāka-ādyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāka (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā (Acc, 2nd), Ekavacana; समासः—‘पाकः आदिः यस्य’ (beginning with cooking)

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

• karoti: does/produces
• karoti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• agniḥ: fire
• agniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Ekavacana

• parameśvara-śāsanāt: from the Supreme Lord’s command
• parameśvara-śāsanāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु; causal source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + śāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Pañcamī (Abl, 5th), Ekavacana; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘परमेश्वरस्य शासनम्’ (the Supreme Lord’s command)

• saṃjīvana-ādyam: reviving and the like
• saṃjīvana-ādyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃjīvana (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā (Acc, 2nd), Ekavacana; ‘reviving and the like’

• sarvasya: of all
• sarvasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka/puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen, 6th), Ekavacana; ‘of all (beings)’

• kurvati: doing/bringing about
• kurvati: Kriyā (क्रिया; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), ‘kurvat’; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with āpaḥ; ‘doing’

• āpaḥ: the waters
• āpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (pluralia tantum), Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Bahuvacana; ‘waters’

• tad-ājñayā: by his command
• tad-ājñayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instr, 3rd), Ekavacana; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘तस्य आज्ञा’ (his command)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Doctrinal cosmology: Agni and Āpas perform their natural powers (pāka; saṃjīvana) only through Śiva’s ordinance, underscoring that tattvas are not autonomous.

Significance: Supports a contemplative ‘Śiva-sarvādhiṣṭhāna’ vision: seeing daily fire/water functions as Śiva’s regulated śakti, fostering constant remembrance (smaraṇa).

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that even the fundamental powers of nature—fire and water—operate only through Parameśvara’s ordinance, affirming Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Governor) and the universe as dependent on His will.

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

The Liṅga represents the all-pervading Lord who silently upholds cosmic functions; worship of Saguna Śiva through the Liṅga trains the devotee to recognize divine lordship behind every elemental action and to surrender egoic doership.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with bhāvanā that all actions and life-forces move by Śiva’s ājñā, cultivating humility and inner surrender.