Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 31

श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः

The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva

Devanagari script

पशुपाशपतिज्ञानं ज्ञानमित्यभिधीयते । षडध्वशुद्धिर्विधिना गुर्वधीना क्रियोच्यते । वर्णाश्रमप्रयुक्तस्य मयैव विहितस्य च । ममार्चनादिधर्मस्य चर्या चर्येति कथ्यते

Transliteration

paśupāśapatijñānaṃ jñānamityabhidhīyate | ṣaḍadhvaśuddhirvidhinā gurvadhīnā kriyocyate | varṇāśramaprayuktasya mayaiva vihitasya ca | mamārcanādidharmasya caryā caryeti kathyate

Translation

Knowledge is declared to be the understanding of the triad—bound soul (paśu), bondage (pāśa), and the Lord (Pati). Ritual action (kriyā) is said to be the purification of the sixfold paths (ṣaḍadhvan), performed according to rule and under the guidance of the Guru. And disciplined conduct (caryā) is called the practice of the duties of worship and the like that I Myself have enjoined, as applied through one’s varṇa and āśrama.

Word by Word

• paśu-pāśa-pati-jñānam: knowledge of the Lord of beings and bonds (Pati)
• paśu-pāśa-pati-jñānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu (प्रातिपदिक) + pāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—(पशूनां पाशानां च) पतिः (शिवः) तस्य ज्ञानम् (genitive-tatpuruṣa chain)

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Pratipādya (प्रातिपाद्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इति-निपात (quotative particle)

• abhidhīyate: is called / is termed
• abhidhīyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-dhā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• ṣaṭ-adhva-śuddhiḥ: purification of the six paths (ṣaḍ-adhvan)
• ṣaṭ-adhva-śuddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + adhvan (प्रातिपदिक) + śuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—षडध्वनां शुद्धिः (genitive-tatpuruṣa)

• vidhinā: by rule / by prescribed method
• vidhinā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• guru-adhīnā: dependent on the guru
• guru-adhīnā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक) + adhīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—गुरौ अधीना (locative-tatpuruṣa)

• kriyā: ritual action
• kriyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ucyate: is said / is called
• ucyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• varṇa-āśrama-prayuktasya: of that which is enjoined/engaged by varṇa and āśrama
• varṇa-āśrama-prayuktasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: varṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āśrama (प्रातिपदिक) + prayukta (कृदन्त; yuj धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter generic), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः—वर्णाश्रमेन प्रयुक्तः (instrumental-tatpuruṣa)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Kartr-karana (कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• eva: indeed / alone
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• vihitasya: of what is prescribed/ordained
• vihitasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-dhā (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masc./Neut.), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• arcana-ādi-dharmasya: of the dharma consisting of worship etc.
• arcana-ādi-dharmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arcana (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—अर्चनादयः धर्माः यस्य/अर्चनादिधर्मः (tatpuruṣa; ādi = 'etc.')

• caryā: conduct / observance
• caryā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• caryā: (it is) caryā
• caryā: Pratipādya (प्रातिपाद्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इति-निपात (quotative particle)

• kathyate: is said / is described
• kathyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kath (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Programmatic Siddhānta definition: jñāna as understanding Pati–Paśu–Pāśa; kriyā as ṣaḍadhva-śuddhi under guru; caryā as Śiva-enjoined worship within varṇāśrama—mapping the liberation curriculum.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines a Shaiva Siddhanta framework: true knowledge is knowing the soul (paśu), its bondage (pāśa), and Shiva as Lord (Pati), while liberation is supported by Guru-guided discipline (caryā) and purifying rites (kriyā).

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

By naming “My duties of worship (arcana) and the like,” it grounds spiritual progress in Saguna Shiva worship—Linga-arcana and prescribed observances—performed within dharma and guided toward the realization of Shiva as Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It emphasizes Guru-led kriyā (purificatory ritual discipline) and caryā (daily worship such as Shiva-arcana); practitioners may integrate mantra-japa (e.g., Panchakshara), bhasma/tripuṇḍra, and regulated conduct according to their āśrama.