Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 26

नैमित्तिकविधिक्रमः

Occasional Rites and Their Procedure

Devanagari script

पशुधर्मान्परित्यज्य शिवधर्मरतो भवेत् । तद्धर्मगौरवादेव ध्यात्वा शिवपुरं व्रजेत्

Transliteration

paśudharmānparityajya śivadharmarato bhavet | taddharmagauravādeva dhyātvā śivapuraṃ vrajet

Translation

بترك سُبُلَ الباشو (paśu) ــ النفس المقيَّدة بقيود العبودية ــ ينبغي للمرء أن يتفانى في «دارما شيفا». وبإجلال تلك الدارما وحدها والتأمل فيها، يبلغ مقام شيفا وموطنه (Śivapura).

Word by Word

• पशुधर्मान्: animalistic duties/ways
• पशुधर्मान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशुधर्म (प्रातिपदिक) = पशु + धर्म
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: पशूनां धर्माः)

• परित्यज्य: having abandoned
• परित्यज्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having abandoned’

• शिवधर्मरतः: devoted to Śiva’s dharma
• शिवधर्मरतः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिवधर्मरत (प्रातिपदिक) = शिवधर्म + रत
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः/विषय-निर्देशः: शिवधर्मे रतः)

• भवेत्: should become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तत्: of that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘of that’ (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• धर्मगौरवात्: from reverence for (that) dharma
• धर्मगौरवात्: Apādāna/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मगौरव (प्रातिपदिक) = धर्म + गौरव
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: धर्मस्य गौरवम्)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थक

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having meditated (on)’

• शिवपुरम्: Śiva’s city/abode
• शिवपुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवपुर (प्रातिपदिक) = शिव + पुर
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: शिवस्य पुरम्)

• व्रजेत्: should go
• व्रजेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: General: turning from paśu-dharma to Śiva-dharma is presented as the decisive cause for reaching Śiva’s abode (Śivapura), i.e., liberation-oriented gati.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Soteriological pivot: shift from paśu-bhāva to Śiva-dharma leading to Śiva-loka/Śivapura (grace-oriented culmination).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation comes by turning away from bondage-driven living (paśu-bhāva) and embracing Śiva-dharma with reverence and steady meditation, culminating in attainment of Śiva’s state/abode (Śivapura).

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

Śiva-dharma is practically lived through devotion and disciplined worship—often centered on the Śiva-liṅga as the accessible saguna focus—by which the bound soul is purified and led toward Śiva’s grace and final union.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse emphasizes dhyāna (meditation) rooted in Śiva-dharma; in Śaiva practice this is commonly supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and regular Śiva-pūjā as aids to steady contemplation.