Shloka 58

उपमन्युकुमारस्य क्षीरार्थ-प्रार्थना तथा शिवप्रसाद-निबन्धनम् | Upamanyu’s Longing for Milk and the Doctrine of Shiva’s Grace

Devanagari script

व्रतं पाशुपतं ज्ञानं व्रतयोगं च तत्त्वतः । ददौ तस्मै प्रवक्तृत्वं पाटवं च निजं पदम्ं

Transliteration

vrataṃ pāśupataṃ jñānaṃ vratayogaṃ ca tattvataḥ | dadau tasmai pravaktṛtvaṃ pāṭavaṃ ca nijaṃ padamṃ

Translation

He bestowed upon him the Pāśupata observance, true knowledge (jñāna), and the discipline of vow-yoga in its real principles; and He granted him the authority to teach, the competence to expound, and His own state (nija pada).

Word by Word

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular

• पाशुपतम्: Pāśupata (pertaining to Paśupati)
• पाशुपतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular; विशेषण (qualifier)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular

• व्रतयोगम्: discipline/practice of the vow
• व्रतयोगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): व्रतस्य योगः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्त्वतः: in truth; truly
• तत्त्वतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्त्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/रीति-वाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Perfect, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन — Masculine, Dative, Singular

• प्रवक्तृत्वम्: the status/role of a teacher/speaker
• प्रवक्तृत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular; भाववाचक-तद्धित (abstract noun)

• पाटवम्: skill; proficiency
• पाटवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाटव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• निजम्: own
• निजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular; विशेषण

• पदम्: state/position; abode
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shatarudra Samhita to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents Shiva as Pati (the Lord) granting the means of release: disciplined observance (vrata), true knowledge (jñāna), and yogic practice grounded in tattva, culminating in Shiva’s grace that elevates the seeker to a Shiva-attuned state.

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

Pāśupata discipline is traditionally practiced with devotion to Saguna Shiva—often centered on Linga worship—where external observance is purified into inner realization, and devotion matures into knowledge through Shiva’s bestowal.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to vrata-yoga: steady vows and regulated conduct supported by Shaiva worship—such as mantra-japa (e.g., Panchakshara), purity disciplines, and contemplative inquiry into tattva—so that practice becomes fit for Shiva’s imparting of jñāna and teaching power.