Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38

पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः

Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge

Devanagari script

प्रधानबुद्ध्यहंकारमनांसि च चतुष्टयम् । समासादेवमव्यक्तं सविकारमुदाहृतम्

Transliteration

pradhānabuddhyahaṃkāramanāṃsi ca catuṣṭayam | samāsādevamavyaktaṃ savikāramudāhṛtam

Translation

Pradhāna (Urnatur), Buddhi (Intellekt), Ahaṃkāra (Ich-Prinzip) und Manas (Geist): diese Vierheit wird, zusammengefasst, Avyakta (das Unmanifestierte) genannt, als mit Wandlungen (vikāra) versehen.

Word by Word

• प्रधान-बुद्धि-अहंकार-मनांसि: pradhāna, intellect, ego, and minds (manas)
• प्रधान-बुद्धि-अहंकार-मनांसि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक) + ahaṃkāra (प्रातिपदिक) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative: pradhāna, buddhi, ahaṃkāra, manas)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• चतुष्टयम्: a group of four
• चतुष्टयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catuṣṭaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संख्यासमूहवाचक (collective: 'a set of four')

• समासात्: from (this) summary/collectively
• समासात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान/हेतुवाचक (ablative: 'from/according to summary')

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb: 'thus')

• अव्यक्तम्: the unmanifest
• अव्यक्तम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avyakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष्य (that which is unmanifest)

• स-विकारम्: with modifications
• स-विकारम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (प्रातिपदिक) + vikāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (with 'sa-' = 'with'): 'having modifications'

• उदाहृतम्: is declared/called
• उदाहृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-ā-hṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि भाव (predicate: 'is said/declared')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

FAQs

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

It classifies the inner instruments and primal nature as the “unmanifest with modifications,” helping the seeker discern that these are evolutes within bondage (pāśa) and not the supreme Lord (Pati), who is beyond all change.

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

By distinguishing the changing unmanifest (prakṛti and its inner faculties) from the changeless Lord, it supports Linga-worship as a focus on Shiva as the transcendent Pati, not merely a product of mind, ego, or intellect.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is meditative discrimination (viveka) during japa—such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—observing buddhi, ahaṃkāra, and manas as mutable instruments, while directing devotion to Shiva who is beyond them.