Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5

सत्रप्रवृत्तिः — वायोः आगमनं च

Commencement of the Satra and the Arrival of Vāyu

Devanagari script

प्रेरयञ्छश्वदंगानि प्राणाद्याभिः स्ववृत्तिभिः । सर्वभूतशरीराणां कुरुते यश्च धारणम्

Transliteration

prerayañchaśvadaṃgāni prāṇādyābhiḥ svavṛttibhiḥ | sarvabhūtaśarīrāṇāṃ kurute yaśca dhāraṇam

Translation

He who ever impels the limbs through the innate functions beginning with prāṇa and the vital powers, and who upholds the bodies of all beings—He is the indwelling Sustainer. In Śaiva Siddhānta, this inner governance is the Lord (Pati) directing the bound soul’s embodied life through the instruments of breath and vital activity, while Himself remaining transcendent.

Word by Word

• प्रेरयन्: impelling; setting in motion
• प्रेरयन्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent; qualifying implied subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-ईरय्/ईर् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शश्वत्: always; continually
• शश्वत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शश्वत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अङ्गानि: limbs; organs
• अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्राण-आद्याभिः: by the prāṇas and the like
• प्राण-आद्याभिः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘प्राणादि’ = प्राण-आदि (and the like)

• स्व-वृत्तिभिः: by their own functions/activities
• स्व-वृत्तिभिः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सर्व-भूत-शरीराणाम्: of the bodies of all beings
• सर्व-भूत-शरीराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कुरुते: does; performs
• कुरुते: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); आत्मनेपद

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• धारणम्: support; sustaining
• धारणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya philosophical teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies Shiva as the inner sustainer who animates the body through prāṇa and its functions, teaching that life’s continuity is upheld by the Lord (Pati), not merely by the limited self.

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

Linga worship trains the mind to perceive Shiva as both transcendent and immanent—this verse emphasizes His immanence as the supporter of all bodies, which the Linga symbolizes as the ever-present divine ground.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prāṇa-sākṣī bhāva (witnessing the breath) in japa—silently repeating “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while observing inhalation and exhalation—supports recognition of Shiva as the inner director of prāṇa.