Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 65

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

Devanagari script

नित्यानामप्यसौ नित्यश्चेतनानां च चेतनः । एको बहूनां चाकामः कामानीशः प्रयच्छति

Transliteration

nityānāmapyasau nityaścetanānāṃ ca cetanaḥ | eko bahūnāṃ cākāmaḥ kāmānīśaḥ prayacchati

Translation

Er ist der Ewige selbst unter allem, was ewig genannt wird, und das höchste Bewusstsein unter den Bewussten. Einer unter den Vielen und selbst wunschlos, gewährt der Herr allen die Gegenstände des Begehrens und ihre Früchte.

Word by Word

• नित्यानाम्: of the eternal (ones)
• नित्यानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-कारक-अव्यय (particle: “even/also”)

• असौ: this/that (he)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नित्यः: eternal
• नित्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• चेतनानाम्: of the conscious (beings)
• चेतनानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चेतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• चेतनः: conscious
• चेतनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चेतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• एकः: one
• एकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• बहूनाम्: of many
• बहूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• अकामः: desireless
• अकामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• कामान्: desires
• कामान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ईशः: lord
• ईशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रयच्छति: bestows/grants
• प्रयच्छति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+यम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares Shiva as Pati—the supreme, independent Consciousness—transcending all limited souls (paśu) while compassionately governing karma and granting results; thus liberation comes by turning from desire to the desireless Lord.

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

The Liṅga symbolizes the one, desireless, supreme Consciousness; worship of Saguna Shiva (with form) leads the devotee toward realizing Nirguna Shiva as the inner cetana who alone dispenses the fruits of actions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the inner Witness (cetanā) while repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering desires into the Lord through Liṅga-pūjā so that attachment is purified and grace (anugraha) arises.