Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 73

पशु-पाश-पतिविचारः / Inquiry into Paśu, Pāśa, and Pati

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मणो वदनाल्लब्धं मयेदं भाग्यगौरवात् । नाप्रशांताय दातव्यमेतज्ज्ञानमनुत्तमम्

Transliteration

brahmaṇo vadanāllabdhaṃ mayedaṃ bhāgyagauravāt | nāpraśāṃtāya dātavyametajjñānamanuttamam

Translation

ব্ৰহ্মাৰ মুখৰ পৰা মহা ভাগ্যগৌৰৱে মই এই জ্ঞান লাভ কৰিছোঁ। এই অনুত্তম জ্ঞান অশান্ত (অসংযমী) লোকক দিয়া উচিত নহয়।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• वदनात्: from (his) mouth
• वदनात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative)

• लब्धम्: obtained
• लब्धम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa / Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘obtained’

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; कर्तृकरण (agent/instrument)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म) / Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देश (demonstrative)

• भाग्यगौरवात्: because of the weight of good fortune
• भाग्यगौरवात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग्य + गौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; हेतौ पञ्चमी (ablative of cause): ‘due to the greatness of fortune’

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• अप्रशान्ताय: to the untranquil person
• अप्रशान्ताय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-प्रशान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; ‘to one who is not calm’

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय: ‘should be given’

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed
• अनुत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of ज्ञानम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a sthala-purāṇa passage; it frames eligibility (adhikāra) for receiving Śaiva jñāna, a prerequisite for fruitful pilgrimage and worship.

Significance: Emphasizes inner qualification (śama/śānti) as the true ‘tīrtha’ for receiving liberating teaching.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes adhikāra (spiritual qualification): the highest Shaiva knowledge is fruitful only for a mind made peaceful through self-restraint, otherwise it becomes misunderstood or misused.

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

Linga/Saguna worship is traditionally given as a purifying discipline that steadies the mind; this verse supports the Shaiva view that inner tranquility is the necessary ground for receiving and realizing the deeper teachings about Pati (Shiva), paśu, and pāśa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate praśānti through japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), steady daily Shiva-pūjā (including bhasma/tripuṇḍra where appropriate), and basic yama-niyama to make the mind fit for higher instruction.