Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge

Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati

Devanagari script

वायुरुवाच । पुरा साक्षान्महेशेन श्रीकंठाख्येन मन्दरे । देव्यै देवेन कथितं ज्ञानं पाशुपतं परम्

Transliteration

vāyuruvāca | purā sākṣānmaheśena śrīkaṃṭhākhyena mandare | devyai devena kathitaṃ jñānaṃ pāśupataṃ param

Translation

Vāyu sprach: Einst, auf dem Berge Mandara, lehrte der Herr selbst—Maheśa, genannt Śrīkaṇṭha—der Göttin das höchste Pāśupata‑Wissen.

Word by Word

• वायुः: Vāyu
• वायुः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (dhātu)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb): 'formerly/once'

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sākṣāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), प्रत्यक्षार्थक/निश्चयार्थक: 'directly/in person'

• महेशेन: by Maheśa (Śiva)
• महेशेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• श्रीकण्ठ-आख्येन: called Śrīkaṇṭha
• श्रीकण्ठ-आख्येन: करण-विशेषण (Karaṇa-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīkaṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तृतीया-सम्बन्धे विशेषणम् to 'महेशेन'; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'श्रीकण्ठ इति आख्यः' (named Śrīkaṇṭha)

• मन्दरे: on/in Mandara (mountain)
• मन्दरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mandara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; पर्वतनाम

• देव्यै: to the Goddess
• देव्यै: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• देवेन: by the god
• देवेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'महेशेन' इत्यस्य पुनरुक्ति/विशेषणार्थ

• कथितम्: was told
• कथितम्: क्रिया (Kriyā; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (dhātu) → kathita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'told/related' (agrees with 'ज्ञानम्')

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: कर्म/प्रधानीय (Karma/Patient; subject of passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पाशुपतम्: Pāśupata (pertaining to Paśupati)
• पाशुपतम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāśupata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण to 'ज्ञानम्'

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण to 'ज्ञानम्'

Speaker

Vayu

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode here; the verse frames a primordial upadeśa on Mount Mandara where Śiva (Śrīkaṇṭha) transmits Pāśupata-jñāna to Devī.

Significance: Hearing/receiving Pāśupata-jñāna is presented as a direct means to Śiva’s anugraha (liberating grace) and right discernment of Pati–Paśu–Pāśa.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Purāṇic ‘former time’ (purā) situating a timeless archetypal revelation on Mandara.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It establishes that the highest liberating knowledge (Pāśupata-jñāna) originates from Shiva Himself (Paśupati) and is transmitted as a direct revelation to the Goddess, underscoring Shiva as the ultimate Guru who grants release from bondage.

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

By naming Shiva as Śrīkaṇṭha and Maheśa, the verse points to Saguna Shiva—approachable in form and name—who teaches the path; Linga-worship in Shaiva tradition is likewise a Saguna support through which the devotee receives Shiva’s grace and knowledge leading to realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies the path of Pāśupata discipline—seeking Shiva as Guru through devotion and yogic contemplation; in practice this is commonly supported by japa of Shiva-mantras (especially the Panchakshara), along with Shaiva observances such as bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and purity.