Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 33

पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge

Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati

Devanagari script

अन्याभिर्मूर्तिभिः स्वाभिः पाति चांते निहन्ति च । विष्णुः पालयते विश्वं कालकालस्य शासनात्

Transliteration

anyābhirmūrtibhiḥ svābhiḥ pāti cāṃte nihanti ca | viṣṇuḥ pālayate viśvaṃ kālakālasya śāsanāt

Translation

بمظاهره الأخرى يحمي، وفي النهاية يُحدِثُ أيضًا الفناء. إنّ فيشنو لا يقوم بحفظ الكون إلا بأمر كالاكاﻻ، السيّد المتعالي على الزمان (شيفا).

Word by Word

• अन्याभिः: with other
• अन्याभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• मूर्तिभिः: forms
• मूर्तिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• स्वाभिः: his own
• स्वाभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• पाति: protects
• पाति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु; ‘to protect’)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative 3rd sg

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

• अन्ते: at the end
• अन्ते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण) एकवचन; Locative singular

• निहन्ति: destroys
• निहन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative 3rd sg

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

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता) एकवचन; Nominative singular

• पालयते: protects/maintains
• पालयते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पालय् (धातु; नामधातु from पाल ‘to protect’)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative 3rd sg (ātmanepada)

• विश्वम्: the universe
• विश्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन; Accusative singular

• कालकालस्य: of the Lord of Time
• कालकालस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालकाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध) एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘Time-of-Time’ = ‘the Lord of Time’ (epithet)

• शासनात्: from/according to the command
• शासनात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (हेतु/अपादान) एकवचन; Ablative singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya (end-of-cycle dissolution implied by 'ante')

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It establishes Śiva as Kālakāla—the transcendent Lord over Time—under whose supreme ordinance even preservation and dissolution operate, affirming Pati (Śiva) as the ultimate governor of cosmic functions.

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

By presenting Śiva as the supreme ruler behind all functions, it supports Linga-worship as devotion to the one Pati who stands beyond changing forms, while also manifesting through forms for protection and dissolution.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as Kālakāla with japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating surrender to His śāsana (divine ordinance), and offer Tripuṇḍra-bhasma as a reminder of impermanence and dissolution.