Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 52

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

क्षेत्रपालाश्च सगणाः सर्वं चैतच्चराचरम् । पूजनीयं शिवप्रीत्या मत्त्वा शंभुविभूतिमत्

Transliteration

kṣetrapālāśca sagaṇāḥ sarvaṃ caitaccarācaram | pūjanīyaṃ śivaprītyā mattvā śaṃbhuvibhūtimat

Translation

In dem Wissen, dass die Kṣetrapālas samt ihren Gefolgen—ja dieses ganze Universum, das Bewegte und das Unbewegte—mit der Macht und Herrlichkeit Śambhus erfüllt sind, soll man sie verehren, um Śiva zu erfreuen.

Word by Word

• क्षेत्रपालाः: the guardians of the sacred place
• क्षेत्रपालाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्रपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः क्षेत्रस्य पालः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सगणाः: with their attendants/retinues
• सगणाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सगण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः सह गणैः इति कर्मधारय (स- उपसर्गसदृश)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समस्त-वस्तु-वाचक

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; विशेषणम् (सर्वम् इत्यस्य)

• चराचरम्: the moving and the unmoving (all beings)
• चराचरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर-अचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः चरः च अचरः च इति द्वन्द्व (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व)

• पूजनीयम्: is to be worshipped / worthy of worship
• पूजनीयम्: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूजनीय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पूज् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्; कृदन्तः—तव्यत्/अनीयर्-अर्थक (gerundive: ‘to be worshipped’)

• शिवप्रीत्या: by/for (the sake of) pleasing Śiva
• शिवप्रीत्या: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवप्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; हेतौ/निमित्ते (by/for the sake of); समासः शिवस्य प्रीतिः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• मत्त्वा: having considered
• मत्त्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √मन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having considered/thought’

• शम्भु-विभूतिमत्: as endowed with Śambhu’s power/majesty
• शम्भु-विभूतिमत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शम्भु + विभूतिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (एतच्चराचरम्/सर्वम् इत्यस्य); समासः शम्भोः विभूतिः यस्य तत् इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विभूतिमत् = ‘possessed of power/majesty’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga legend; it articulates a Siddhāntic devotional principle: all beings (cara-acara) and protective deities (kṣetrapālas with gaṇas) are Śambhu’s vibhūti (manifest power), hence honoring them is indirectly honoring Śiva.

Significance: Encourages temple-ethic: respect for kṣetrapālas/gaṇas and all life as Śiva’s vibhūti; such reverence becomes a vehicle for Śiva-prīti and grace (anugraha).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shambhu
• Kshetrapalas
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It teaches a Shaiva vision of reverence: the cosmos (moving and unmoving) and even temple-guardians are to be honored as bearing Śiva’s vibhūti, so worship becomes an act of devotion directed to Śiva rather than mere worldly appeasement.

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

In Saguna worship, devotees honor Śiva’s manifest presence and His retinue (gaṇas, kṣetrapālas) as extensions of His lordship; such honoring supports Linga-worship by recognizing the sacred field around Śiva’s abode as pervaded by His power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is respectful worship of the temple precincts and guardians (kṣetrapāla/gaṇa offerings) with the intention of śiva-prīti, accompanied by inward contemplation that all beings are sustained by Śambhu’s vibhūti.