Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5

अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace

Devanagari script

परं सर्वमनुग्राह्यं पशुपाशात्मकं जगत् । परस्यानुग्रहार्थं तु पत्युराज्ञासमन्वयः

Transliteration

paraṃ sarvamanugrāhyaṃ paśupāśātmakaṃ jagat | parasyānugrahārthaṃ tu patyurājñāsamanvayaḥ

Translation

Diese ganze Welt—bestehend aus paśu (gebundenen Seelen) und pāśa (ihren Fesseln)—ist wahrhaft ein würdiger Empfänger der höchsten Gnade. Und um jene höchste Gnade zu gewähren, gibt es den ordnenden Willen und die Herrschaft des Herrn (Pati).

Word by Word

• परम्: supreme; highest
• परम्: Karma (कर्म/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सर्वम्: all; entire
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject: qualifying जगत्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘all/entire’

• अनुग्राह्यम्: to be graced; fit to be favored
• अनुग्राह्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective of जगत्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु + √ग्रह् (धातु) → अनुग्राह्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: ‘to be favored’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पशुपाशात्मकम्: consisting of souls and bonds
• पशुपाशात्मकम्: Karta (कर्ता/Qualifier of जगत्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पशु + पाश + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: ‘पशु-पाश’ (bound souls and bonds) + ‘आत्मक’ (consisting of) तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• परस्य: of the Supreme (Lord)
• परस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• अनुग्रहार्थम्: for the purpose of grace
• अनुग्रहार्थम्: Karma (कर्म/Accusative of purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुग्रह + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: ‘अनुग्रह’ + ‘अर्थ’ (purpose) तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (purpose)

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Contrast)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; विशेष/विरोधार्थे

• पत्युः: of the Lord/master
• पत्युः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• आज्ञा: command; order
• आज्ञा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject within compound sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• समन्वयः: connection; accordance
• समन्वयः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समन्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It states the Shaiva Siddhanta framework: the world is made of paśu (souls) and pāśa (bondage), and liberation happens primarily through Pati’s (Shiva’s) anugraha—His gracious intervention and guidance.

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

Linga/Saguna worship is a compassionate means established under Pati’s ordinance (ājñā) so bound beings can approach the Supreme through accessible forms, receive purification, and become fit for His liberating grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is grace-oriented sādhanā: daily Shiva-pūjā to the Linga with Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and/or Rudrākṣa as disciplines that weaken pāśa and align the soul with Pati’s ordinance.