Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 67

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

Devanagari script

विश्वकृद्विश्ववित्स्वात्मयोनिज्ञः कालकृद्गुणी । प्रधानः क्षेत्रज्ञपतिर्गुणेशः पाशमोचकः

Transliteration

viśvakṛdviśvavitsvātmayonijñaḥ kālakṛdguṇī | pradhānaḥ kṣetrajñapatirguṇeśaḥ pāśamocakaḥ

Translation

He is the Maker of the universe and the Knower of the universe; He knows the source of His own Self. He is the Ordainer of time and the possessor—and master—of the guṇas. He is the Pradhāna (primordial matrix), the Lord of the knower of the field (the individual soul), the Ruler of the guṇas, and the Liberator who cuts the bonds (pāśas).

Word by Word

• विश्वकृत्: creator of the universe
• विश्वकृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ धातुज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘विश्वस्य कर्ता’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• विश्ववित्: knower of the universe
• विश्ववित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व + वित् (प्रातिपदिक; √विद् धातुज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘विश्वं वेत्ति’ इति कर्म-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समासभाव

• स्वात्मयोनिज्ञः: knower of the source of his own Self
• स्वात्मयोनिज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + आत्मन् + योनि + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘स्वात्मनः योनिं जानाति’/‘स्वात्मयोनिं जानाति’

• कालकृत्: maker of time
• कालकृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ धातुज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘कालस्य कर्ता’

• गुणी: possessed of qualities
• गुणी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; गुणवत्त्वयुक्तः

• प्रधानः: the Pradhāna (primordial nature)
• प्रधानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• क्षेत्रज्ञपतिः: lord of the knower of the field
• क्षेत्रज्ञपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्रज्ञ + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘क्षेत्रज्ञस्य पतिः’

• गुणेशः: lord of the guṇas
• गुणेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘गुणानां ईशः’

• पाशमोचकः: liberator from bonds
• पाशमोचकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश + मोचक (प्रातिपदिक; √मुच् धातुज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘पाशान् मोचयति’ इति उपपद/कर्म-तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse praises Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord who governs time, nature (guṇas and pradhāna), and the individual soul—while also being Pāśamocaka, the one who removes the bonds of ignorance and karma to grant liberation.

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

By listing Shiva’s cosmic functions and liberating grace, the verse supports Saguna worship (such as Linga-pūjā) as a concrete means to approach the transcendent Lord who both pervades creation and frees the soul from bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as “Pāśamocaka” while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering water and bilva to the Linga with the intent of cutting inner bonds—ego, desire, and ignorance.