Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 12

पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः

Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge

Devanagari script

अजडं च जडं चैव नियंतृ च तयोरपि । पशुः पाशः पतिश्चेति कथ्यते तत्त्रयं क्रमात्

Transliteration

ajaḍaṃ ca jaḍaṃ caiva niyaṃtṛ ca tayorapi | paśuḥ pāśaḥ patiśceti kathyate tattrayaṃ kramāt

Translation

Die bewusste Seele (nicht unbeseelt), das unbeseelte Prinzip und der Lenker beider—diese drei werden der Reihe nach gelehrt als Paśu (die gebundene Seele), Pāśa (das Band) und Pati (der Herr).

Word by Word

• अजडम्: non-inert (sentient)
• अजडम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + जड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (negated: non-inert/non-insentient)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• जडम्: inert (insentient)
• जडम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle: indeed/just)

• नियन्तृ: controller
• नियन्तृ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियन्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (कर्तृवाचक)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी विभक्ति (Genitive/Locative), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थ (particle: also/even)

• पशुः: the bound soul (paśu)
• पशुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पाशः: bond, fetter (pāśa)
• पाशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पतिः: Lord/master (pati)
• पतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/निरूपणसूचक

• कथ्यते: is said/called
• कथ्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive: is said)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (त्रयम् इत्यस्य)

• त्रयम्: triad, set of three
• त्रयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• क्रमात्: in due order, sequentially
• क्रमात्: Hetu (हेतु)/Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (adverbial: in order/ क्रमशः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines the core Shaiva Siddhanta framework: the soul (paśu) is conscious yet bound, bondage (pāśa) is the insentient limiting factor, and Śiva (pati) alone is the supreme ruler who grants release when the bonds are removed.

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

By identifying Śiva as Pati—the controller beyond soul and matter—it supports Saguna worship (Linga, mantra, pūjā) as a practical means to approach the transcendent Lord who alone can sever pāśa and bestow mokṣa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the triad during japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), affirming oneself as paśu seeking Śiva (pati); support the practice with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steady devotion and inner discipline.