Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10

पशु-पाश-पतिविचारः / Inquiry into Paśu, Pāśa, and Pati

Devanagari script

भोक्ता भोग्यं प्रेरयिता मंतव्यं त्रिविधं स्मृतम् । नातः परं विजानद्भिर्वेदितव्यं हि किंचनः

Transliteration

bhoktā bhogyaṃ prerayitā maṃtavyaṃ trividhaṃ smṛtam | nātaḥ paraṃ vijānadbhirveditavyaṃ hi kiṃcanaḥ

Translation

Der Erkennende soll diese Dreiheit verstehen: den Erfahrenden (den gebundenen paśu), das Erfahrbare (die Welt der Genüsse) und den antreibenden Herrn—den inneren Lenker. Darüber hinaus gibt es für den wahrhaft Unterscheidenden nichts Weiteres, das erkannt werden müsste.

Word by Word

• भोक्ता: enjoyer/experiencer
• भोक्ता: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √भुज् (धातु)
• Form: तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भोग्यम्: that which is to be enjoyed (object)
• भोग्यम्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √भुज् + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रेरयिता: impeller/instigator
• प्रेरयिता: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र-√ईर्/√इर् (धातु)
• Form: तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मन्तव्यम्: that which is to be contemplated/considered
• मन्तव्यम्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √मन् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• त्रिविधम्: threefold
• त्रिविधम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः; विशेषण (qualifying the set)

• स्मृतम्: is declared/remembered
• स्मृतम्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगः (it is said/remembered)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• अतः: from this/beyond this
• अतः: अपादान/हेतु (Apādāna/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपादान/हेतु-वाचक (from this/therefore)

• परम्: anything higher/further
• परम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विजानद्भिः: by those who know/understand
• विजानद्भिः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-√ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• वेदितव्यम्: to be known
• वेदितव्यम्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √विद् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय (to be known)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• किञ्चन: anything whatsoever
• किञ्चन: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किञ्चन (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रमाणवाचक (indefinite pronoun)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It summarizes Shaiva Siddhanta’s core framework: the soul (paśu) experiences the world (pāśa/field of bonds), while Śiva as Pati is the inner impeller who governs experience and grants liberation through true discernment.

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

Linga-worship trains the mind to recognize the ‘prerayitā’—Śiva as the indwelling Lord beyond the changing ‘bhogya.’ Through Saguna devotion, the seeker turns from mere enjoyment to the Lord who directs and transcends all experience.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the triad during japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya): observe the self as bhoktā, objects as bhogya, and Śiva as prerayitā; offer all experiences mentally into the Linga, supported by Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness.