Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

विन्यस्याग्नौ च सम्प्रोक्ष्य दिने तस्मिन्हविष्यभुक् । प्रभाते तु चतुर्दश्यां कृत्वा सर्वं पुरोदितम्

Transliteration

vinyasyāgnau ca samprokṣya dine tasminhaviṣyabhuk | prabhāte tu caturdaśyāṃ kṛtvā sarvaṃ puroditam

Translation

Nachdem er die Gaben ordnungsgemäß in das heilige Feuer gelegt und sie durch Besprengen gereinigt hat, soll er an jenem Tag nur die vorgeschriebene Opfer-Speise (havisya) zu sich nehmen. Dann, am Morgen des vierzehnten Mondtages (caturdaśī), nachdem er alles zuvor Gebotene vollendet hat, soll er den Ritus in rechter Weise fortsetzen.

Word by Word

• vinyásya: having placed/arranged
• vinyásya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ni-as (धातु √अस्/√अस्य?; here √अस्/√अस्य in sense 'to place' via विन्यस्) (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √न्यस् (न्यासे) with उपसर्ग vi+ni; 'having placed'

• agnau: in the fire
• agnau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• samprokṣya: having sprinkled
• samprokṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-pra-ukṣ (धातु √उक्ष्/√उक्ष्?; here √उक्ष् 'to sprinkle') (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √उक्ष् (सेचने) with उपसर्ग sam+pra; 'having sprinkled/consecrated'

• dine: on the day
• dine: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasmin: on that (day)
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• haviṣya-bhuk: one who eats only oblation/ritual food
• haviṣya-bhuk: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haviṣya (प्रातिपदिक) + bhuj (धातु √भुज्)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) 'haviṣyaṃ bhunakti iti'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• prabhāte: at dawn
• prabhāte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• caturdaśyām: on the fourteenth lunar day
• caturdaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturdaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु √कृ)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √कृ (करणे); 'having done'

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• puroditam: previously prescribed/said
• puroditam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: purodita (प्रातिपदिक; past passive participle from puraḥ+√vad/√ud?; 'previously stated')
• Form: Past passive participle (कर्मणि क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying sarvam

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śuddhi (purification) and niyama (disciplined restraint): by purifying the offering and limiting oneself to haviṣya, the devotee steadies body and mind so worship may become fit for Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

The verse outlines preparatory conduct for a formal Shaiva rite—purification, homa-related acts, and regulated diet—supporting Saguna Shiva worship where the devotee approaches Shiva through consecrated actions, offerings, and observances performed with purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A vrata-style preparation: perform sprinkling purification (prokṣaṇa), offer properly into the sacred fire (homa where applicable), keep a haviṣya-only diet, and complete the previously prescribed steps on caturdaśī—ideally accompanied by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).