Shloka 75

Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

अयमेव हि संसारी मायया मोहितः पशुः । शिवज्ञानविहीनो हि नानाकर्मविमूढधीः

Transliteration

ayameva hi saṃsārī māyayā mohitaḥ paśuḥ | śivajñānavihīno hi nānākarmavimūḍhadhīḥ

Translation

Indeed, this very transmigrating being is the bound soul, the “paśu,” deluded by Māyā. Devoid of Śiva-knowledge, the mind grows confused, wandering amid countless actions (karma).

Word by Word

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

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Hetu-sūcaka (हेतुसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये अव्यय (causal/emphatic particle)

• संसारी: a worldly being
• संसारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘worldly being’

• मायया: by māyā
• मायया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मोहितः: deluded
• मोहितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुह् (धातु) → मोहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे ‘deluded’

• पशुः: the bound soul (paśu)
• पशुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिव: Śiva
• शिव: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (in शिवज्ञान)

• ज्ञान: knowledge
• ज्ञान: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (in शिवज्ञान)

• विहीनः: devoid (of)
• विहीनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-ही (धातु) → विहीन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘devoid of’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• नाना: various
• नाना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/विशेषण-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रकृति, विशेषणार्थे; समासाङ्ग (in नानाकर्म)

• कर्म: actions
• कर्म: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (in नानाकर्म)

• विमूढ: thoroughly confused
• विमूढ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-मुह् (धातु) → विमूढ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (in विमूढधीः)

• धीः: intellect
• धीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समस्तपद: नानाकर्मविमूढधीः = नानाकर्म + विमूढधीः (बहुव्रीहिः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maya
• Pashu
• Pati

FAQs

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

It defines the saṃsārī jīva as paśu (the bound soul) whose bondage is sustained by Māyā and ignorance of Śiva; liberation arises when Śiva-jñāna dawns and karma-driven confusion is transcended.

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

Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship disciplines the mind and turns the bound paśu away from scattered karmas toward devotion and right knowledge; through grace, such worship matures into Śiva-jñāna that cuts Māyā’s delusion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Shift from mere multiplicity of actions to Śiva-centered sādhanā—regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-abhiṣeka with inner remembrance, and wearing/using rudrākṣa and bhasma as supports for steady awareness of Śiva.