Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

तदर्धं दिनमेकं वा व्रतसंकल्पनावधि । अग्निमाधाय विधिवद्विरजाहोमकारणात्

Transliteration

tadardhaṃ dinamekaṃ vā vratasaṃkalpanāvadhi | agnimādhāya vidhivadvirajāhomakāraṇāt

Translation

Die Zeitspanne für die Festlegung des Gelübde-Entschlusses (vrata-saṅkalpa) soll einen halben Tag oder einen ganzen Tag betragen. Danach, nachdem man das heilige Feuer vorschriftsgemäß errichtet hat, soll man die Virajā-homa vollziehen, denn sie ist die Ursache ritueller Läuterung (Befreiung von Unreinheit).

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; 'अर्धम्' विशेषयति

• अर्धम्: half (a period)
• अर्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; कालपरिमाण (measure of time)

• दिनम्: a day
• दिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; कालवाचक

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'दिनम्' विशेषयति

• वा: or
• वा: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• व्रत-संकल्पन-अवधि: the limit/period of the vow-resolution
• व्रत-संकल्पन-अवधि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + संकल्पन (प्रातिपदिक) + अवधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): 'व्रतस्य संकल्पनायाः अवधि'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• अग्निम्: fire
• अग्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• आधाय: having established (the fire)
• आधाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), उपसर्गः आ-; 'having placed/established'

• विधिवत्: according to the prescribed rule
• विधिवत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) = 'according to rule'

• विरजा-होम-कारणात्: because of the cause/purpose of the Virajā-homa
• विरजा-होम-कारणात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरजा (प्रातिपदिक) + होम (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; 'विरजाहोमस्य कारणम्' इति; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/हेतु), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Agni

FAQs

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

It teaches that a Shiva-vrata begins with disciplined intention (saṅkalpa) and purification; outer ritual purity supports inner steadiness, making the aspirant fit for devotion to Pati (Shiva) and progress toward liberation.

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

Before approaching Saguna Shiva in Linga-worship, the devotee prepares through saṅkalpa and purificatory rites like homa, aligning body, speech, and mind so the offering becomes a worthy act of bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It recommends determining the vrata-saṅkalpa period (half-day or full day), establishing the sacred fire properly, and performing Virajā-homa as a cleansing rite prior to further Shiva worship and mantra-japa.