Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 58

पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge

Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati

Devanagari script

सा ऽब्रवीत्सस्मितं देवी स युष्माकमगोचरः । तेनेदं भ्रम्यते चक्रं संसाराख्यं चराचरम्

Transliteration

sā 'bravītsasmitaṃ devī sa yuṣmākamagocaraḥ | tenedaṃ bhramyate cakraṃ saṃsārākhyaṃ carācaram

Translation

Lächelnd sprach die Göttin: „Er ist jenseits der Reichweite von euch allen. Durch Ihn wird dieses sich drehende Rad – Samsara genannt, das das Bewegliche und das Unbewegliche umfasst – in Bewegung gesetzt.“

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सस्मितम्: smilingly/with a smile
• सस्मितम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + स्मित (√स्मि/स्मय्, क्त-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत्—‘स्मितयुक्तम्’ (with a smile)

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सः: he/that one
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• युष्माकम्: of you (pl.)
• युष्माकम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• अगोचरः: not within (your) perception/reach
• अगोचरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + गोचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष—‘गोचरः न’ (not within range)

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भ्रम्यते: revolves/is made to wander
• भ्रम्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (is made to revolve / revolves)

• चक्रम्: wheel/cycle
• चक्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संसार-आख्यम्: called “saṃsāra”
• संसार-आख्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (√ख्या, क्त/य-प्रत्ययाधारित प्रातिपदिक ‘named’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘संसार’ इति आख्यं (called saṃsāra)

• चर-अचरम्: the moving and the unmoving (world)
• चर-अचरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर (प्रातिपदिक) + अचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व—moving and non-moving (all beings)

Speaker

Goddess (Devī/Parvatī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: saṃsāra-cakra (cosmic cycle) set in motion by Īśvara

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse points to Shiva as Pati—the transcendent Lord who is not grasped by ordinary senses or mind—yet whose power sustains and turns the entire cycle of saṃsāra (bondage and becoming). Recognizing His transcendence is the first step toward liberation.

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

Although Shiva is ‘agocara’ (beyond perception), devotees approach Him through Saguna supports like the Śiva-liṅga, mantra, and pūjā. The liṅga functions as a sacred focus through which the mind is led from the visible symbol to the formless, transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the inner Lord beyond the senses while repeating the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to steady the mind that is otherwise carried around by the saṃsāra-chakra; support this with simple liṅga-pūjā (water/abhisheka) as a Saguna aid.