Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 37

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

सर्वद्रव्याणि देयानि व्रते तस्मिन्विशेषतः । श्रीपत्रोत्पलपद्मानां संख्या साहस्रिकी मता

Transliteration

sarvadravyāṇi deyāni vrate tasminviśeṣataḥ | śrīpatrotpalapadmānāṃ saṃkhyā sāhasrikī matā

Translation

In jenem heiligen Gelübde soll man insbesondere alle Arten von Gaben als Almosen darreichen. Für Bilva-Blätter sowie für blaue Lotos- und Lotosblüten gilt die vorgeschriebene Zahl als tausend.

Word by Word

• सर्वद्रव्याणि: all substances/items
• सर्वद्रव्याणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (सर्वाणि द्रव्याणि)

• देयानि: to be given/should be offered
• देयानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → देय (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त-विशेषण; भाव्य/विधेयार्थे ‘देय’ (gerundive/तव्यत्-अर्थ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• व्रते: in the vow/observance
• व्रते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/रीत्या (adverb of manner)

• श्रीपत्रोत्पलपद्मानाम्: of bilva-leaves, lotuses, and padmas
• श्रीपत्रोत्पलपद्मानाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीपत्र + उत्पल + पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (श्रीपत्राणि च उत्पलानि च पद्मानि च); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन

• संख्या: the number
• संख्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• साहस्रिकी: a thousand (in count)
• साहस्रिकी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साहस्रिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (संख्यायाः)

• मता: is considered/held to be
• मता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन् (धातु) → मत (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘(इति) मता’ = ‘is considered’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Specifies vrata-discipline through numerical observance (saṃkhyā-niyama), a Siddhānta-style kriyā that trains the paśu in steadiness and surrender, oriented toward Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that a Shiva-vrata is fulfilled not only by personal austerity but also by generous giving (dāna) and abundant, reverent worship—actions that purify the pashu (bound soul) and turn it toward Pati (Śiva).

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

Bilva leaves and lotus offerings are classic Saguna forms of devotion directed to the Shiva Linga; the specified “thousand” count emphasizes sustained, focused bhakti expressed through repeated, orderly upacāras (ritual services).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform a vrata with dāna and offer bilva leaves/lotus flowers in a set count (traditionally 1000), ideally alongside mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during Linga-puja.