Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 44

पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः

Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge

Devanagari script

बुद्धीन्द्रियशरीराणां नात्मता सद्भिरिष्यते । स्मृतेरनियतज्ञानादयावद्देहवेदनात्

Transliteration

buddhīndriyaśarīrāṇāṃ nātmatā sadbhiriṣyate | smṛteraniyatajñānādayāvaddehavedanāt

Translation

Die Weisen erkennen weder Intellekt noch Sinne noch den Leib als das Selbst an; denn Erinnerung und dergleichen sind im Erkennen unbeständig, und leibliche Erfahrung reicht nur so weit, wie der Leib empfunden wird.

Word by Word

• buddhi-indriya-śarīrāṇām: of intellect, senses, and body
• buddhi-indriya-śarīrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक) + śarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• ātmatā: selfhood, being the self
• ātmatā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātmatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भाववाचक (abstract noun: -tā)

• sadbhiḥ: by the wise/good (people)
• sadbhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘सद्’ = सज्जन/विद्वान्

• iṣyate: is accepted/considered
• iṣyate: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: 'is accepted')

• smṛteḥ: from memory
• smṛteḥ: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: smṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative) एकवचन (also possible षष्ठी; here ablative with -āt later: 'from memory...')

• aniyata-jñāna-ādayaḥ: uncertain cognition and the like
• aniyata-jñāna-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; implied: 'arise/are known')
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-niyata (प्रातिपदिक) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘अनियतं ज्ञानं’ (irregular/uncertain cognition) + ‘आदयः’ (and the rest)

• yāvat-deha-vedanāt: from (the fact of) bodily sensation lasting (so long)
• yāvat-deha-vedanāt: Apādāna/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + deha (प्रातिपदिक) + vedana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः: ‘यावत् देहवेदनम्’ = as long as bodily sensation; पञ्चमी-हेतौ (ablative of cause/source)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Doctrinal discrimination (viveka) passage: denies selfhood to buddhi/indriya/deha due to inconstancy and limitation, aligning with Siddhānta’s paśu distinct from instruments (karaṇa).

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches discernment (viveka): the true Self is not the changing mind-intellect, senses, or body; liberation arises by recognizing Shiva as the steady Pati (Lord) distinct from the bound pashu and its instruments.

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee to shift identity from perishable body-sense experience to the unchanging Shiva-tattva symbolized by the Linga—steady, beyond fluctuating cognition, yet approachable through saguna devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice self-inquiry during japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), observing thoughts and sensations as non-Self; support this with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of detachment and Shiva-centered awareness.