Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

परिग्रहविनिर्मुक्तः पशुरित्यभिधीयते । पशुभिः प्रेरितश्चापि पशुत्वं नातिवर्तते

Transliteration

parigrahavinirmuktaḥ paśurityabhidhīyate | paśubhiḥ preritaścāpi paśutvaṃ nātivartate

Translation

One who is free from possessiveness and acquisitive grasping is called a ‘paśu’—the bound individual. Yet, if he is driven by other paśus (worldly bound beings), he does not truly transcend paśutva, the state of bondage and conditioned living.

Word by Word

• परिग्रहविनिर्मुक्तः: freed from possessions
• परिग्रहविनिर्मुक्तः: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिग्रह + विनिर्मुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/षष्ठीभाव (परिग्रहात् विनिर्मुक्तः); ‘विनिर्मुक्त’ = वि+निर्+मुच् धातोः क्त (past passive participle)

• पशुः: an animal / bound being
• पशुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Vakyopanyasa (वाक्योपन्यास)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• अभिधीयते: is called
• अभिधीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + धा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• पशुभिः: by animals / by bound beings
• पशुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• प्रेरितः: impelled
• प्रेरितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + ईर् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त (past passive participle)

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (also/even)

• पशुत्वम्: animality / bondage-nature
• पशुत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशुत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• अतिवर्तते: transcends / goes beyond
• अतिवर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches the Shaiva Siddhanta insight that bondage (paśutva) is not ended merely by dropping outer possessions; one must also be free from the pull of worldly company and impulses, turning the will toward Pati (Shiva) for true release from pāśa (bonds).

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

Linga-worship centers the mind on Shiva as Pati, the liberating Lord; this verse implies that without anchoring oneself in Shiva-bhakti and disciplined focus, external renunciation can be undone by social pressure and worldly imitation, keeping one in paśutva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivate satsanga with Shiva-devotees rather than worldly influence, and support inner detachment with simple Shiva-upacharas such as bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudraksha as reminders of vairagya and restraint.