Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 62

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

भक्तान्द्विजांश्च शक्तश्चेद्दीनानाथांश्च तोषयेत् । स्वयं चानशने शक्तः फलमूलाशने ऽथ वा

Transliteration

bhaktāndvijāṃśca śaktaśceddīnānāthāṃśca toṣayet | svayaṃ cānaśane śaktaḥ phalamūlāśane 'tha vā

Translation

If one is able, one should gratify the Lord’s devotees, the twice-born, and also the helpless and the unprotected. And if one has the strength, one should oneself observe fasting (anāśana); otherwise, one may subsist on fruits and roots.

Word by Word

• भक्तान्: devotees
• भक्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• द्विजान्: twice-born (brāhmaṇas etc.)
• द्विजान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• शक्तः: able
• शक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (able/capable)

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, शर्तार्थक (conditional particle: if)

• दीन-अनाथान्: the poor and the helpless
• दीन-अनाथान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक) + अनाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (the poor and the helpless)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• तोषयेत्: should satisfy/please
• तोषयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष् (धातु) (णिच्) → तोषय (धातु-प्रयोग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (cause to be pleased)

• स्वयम्: oneself
• स्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता/agent-emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, आत्मार्थक (oneself)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• अनशने: in fasting
• अनशने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• शक्तः: able
• शक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• फल-मूल-आशने: in eating fruits and roots
• फल-मूल-आशने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + आशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (फल + मूल) तत्पश्चात् तत्पुरुष (फलमूलयोः आशनम् = eating fruits and roots)

• अथ: then/otherwise
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तरार्थक/विकल्पोपक्रम (then/else)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक (or)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Service to bhaktas, dvijas, and the helpless is framed as Śiva-sevā itself, accruing puṇya and softening pāśa (bondage) through compassion and restraint.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva devotion is proved through compassionate service—honouring Shiva’s devotees and supporting the helpless—along with disciplined self-restraint such as fasting, which purifies the pashu (bound soul) and loosens the pasha (bondage).

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

In Saguna Shiva worship, pleasing Shiva is inseparable from pleasing His bhaktas and upholding dharma; offerings at the Linga culminate in living worship through feeding and supporting those worthy and those in need.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A vrata-oriented practice is implied: fast if capable, or keep a regulated phala-mūla (fruits and roots) diet, while performing dāna/annadāna to devotees, dvijas, and the poor as part of Shaiva worship.