Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3

पशु-पाश-पतिविचारः / Inquiry into Paśu, Pāśa, and Pati

Devanagari script

अभावे तस्य विश्वस्य सृष्टिरेषा कथं भवेत् । अचेतनत्वादज्ञानादनयोः पशुपाशयोः

Transliteration

abhāve tasya viśvasya sṛṣṭireṣā kathaṃ bhavet | acetanatvādajñānādanayoḥ paśupāśayoḥ

Translation

If That—the Supreme Lord—were absent, how could this creation of the universe ever come to be? For both the paśu (the bound soul) and the pāśa (the bond) are insentient and ignorant, and therefore cannot originate creation by themselves.

Word by Word

• अभावे: in the absence
• अभावे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तस्य: of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• विश्वस्य: of the universe
• विश्वस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• सृष्टिः: creation
• सृष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एषा: this
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (interrogative adverb: how)

• भवेत्: could be; should occur
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अचेतनत्वात्: because of insentience
• अचेतनत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-चेतन-त्व (प्रातिपदिक: अचेतन + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (acetanatva)

• अज्ञानात्: because of ignorance
• अज्ञानात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• अनयोः: of these two
• अनयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• पशुपाशयोः: of (the) soul and bondage
• पशुपाशयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु-पाश (प्रातिपदिक: पशु + पाश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वः (pashuś ca pāśaś ca)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva Siddhanta-style Pati–Paśu–Pāśa doctrine to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

FAQs

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

It establishes Shiva (Pati) as indispensable: neither the bound soul (paśu) nor bondage (pāśa) can generate or govern creation, since both are marked by limitation and ignorance; liberation and true knowledge depend on the Lord.

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

Linga-worship points to Shiva as the conscious, transcendent source behind the universe; by approaching Saguna Shiva through the Linga, the devotee gains grace that cuts pāśa (bondage) and awakens the paśu to Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the conscious Lord beyond inert bondage, and support the contemplation with japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); this aligns the mind away from ajñāna (ignorance) toward śiva-jñāna (liberating knowledge).