Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

यावच्छरीरपातं वा द्वादशाब्दमथापि वा । तदर्धं वा तदर्धं वा मासद्वादशकं तु वा

Transliteration

yāvaccharīrapātaṃ vā dvādaśābdamathāpi vā | tadardhaṃ vā tadardhaṃ vā māsadvādaśakaṃ tu vā

Translation

Dieses Gelübde kann bis zum Fall des Körpers (das heißt ein Leben lang) eingehalten werden, oder aber zwölf Jahre; oder die Hälfte davon, oder wiederum die Hälfte der Hälfte; oder wenigstens für die Dauer von zwölf Monaten.

Word by Word

• yāvat: as long as; up to
• yāvat: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), परिमाण/अवधि-वाचक अव्यय (quantitative/limit adverb)

• śarīra-pātam: falling of the body; death
• śarīra-pātam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śarīrasya pātaḥ)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle: or)

• dvādaśa-abdam: twelve years
• dvādaśa-abdam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + abda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (dvādaśa abdaḥ = twelve years)

• atha: then; also
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तरार्थक/प्रसङ्गार्थक (then/also)

• api: also; even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक निपात (or)

• tad-ardham: half of that
• tad-ardham: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ardha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (tasya ardham = half of that)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक निपात (or)

• tad-ardham: half of that
• tad-ardham: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ardha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (half of that)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक निपात (or)

• māsa-dvādaśakam: twelve months
• māsa-dvādaśakam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक) + dvādaśaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (māsānāṃ dvādaśakam = a set of twelve months)

• tu: but; indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण/विरोधार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक निपात (or)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Defines vrata-kāla (duration) options, emphasizing sustained sādhana; long observance supports gradual pāśa-kṣaya (attenuation of bonds) and maturation toward grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes niṣṭhā (steadfast commitment) in Shaiva sādhanā: the ideal is lifelong practice, yet Shiva’s path also accommodates time-bound vows—twelve years, shorter halves, or at least one year—so that devotion and discipline remain accessible while still purifying the paśu (bound soul) from pāśa (bondage).

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

By prescribing sustained periods for observance, it supports regular Saguna worship—daily pūjā of the Śiva-liṅga, japa, and vrata—so the devotee’s mind becomes steady in Shiva-bhakti and gradually ripens toward deeper realization of Pati (Shiva) beyond limitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies maintaining a consistent Shaiva vow for a defined duration—commonly including daily liṅga-pūjā, Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and vrata discipline—ideally lifelong, but at minimum for a year if one’s capacity is limited.