Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

शिवानुग्रहमासाद्य ज्ञानवान्स हि जायते । अथ गोमयमादाय पिण्डीकृत्याभिमंत्र्य च

Transliteration

śivānugrahamāsādya jñānavānsa hi jāyate | atha gomayamādāya piṇḍīkṛtyābhimaṃtrya ca

Translation

Nachdem er Śivas Gnade erlangt hat, wird er wahrlich mit wahrem Wissen begabt. Dann nimmt er Kuhdung, formt ihn zu einem Klumpen und, nachdem er ihn durch Mantra-Rezitation geweiht hat, schreitet er im Ritus fort.

Word by Word

• शिवानुग्रहम्: Śiva’s grace
• शिवानुग्रहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + अनुग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य अनुग्रहः)

• आसाद्य: having attained
• आसाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + सद् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having attained/approached)

• ज्ञानवान्: possessing knowledge/wise
• ज्ञानवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञानवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of सः)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये-अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• जायते: is born/becomes
• जायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• गोमयम्: cow-dung
• गोमयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गोः मयम्/गोमयम्)

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having taken)

• पिण्डीकृत्य: having formed into a lump
• पिण्डीकृत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पिण्डी + कृ (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having made into a lump)

• अभिमन्त्र्य: having consecrated (by mantra)
• अभिमन्त्र्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + मन्त्र् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having consecrated/enchanted with mantra)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that jñāna (liberating insight) is not merely intellectual—it arises through Śiva’s anugraha (grace), which removes bondage and ripens the soul toward realization.

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

The verse links inner transformation (knowledge through grace) with outer, saguna-oriented ritual action—sanctifying materials with mantra as part of disciplined Śiva-upāsanā that supports purity and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests a mantra-samskāra (consecration by recitation) of a purificatory substance (cow-dung formed into a lump), indicating careful preparation of ritual implements alongside remembrance of Śiva through mantra.