Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 22

योगाचार्यरूपेण शर्वावताराः (Śarva’s manifestations as Yoga-Teachers)

Devanagari script

सर्वे पाशुपताः सिद्धा भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहाः । सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञा वेदवेदांगपारगाः

Transliteration

sarve pāśupatāḥ siddhā bhasmoddhūlitavigrahāḥ | sarvaśāstrārthatattvajñā vedavedāṃgapāragāḥ

Translation

All those Pāśupatas were accomplished adepts, their bodies dusted with sacred ash (bhasma). They knew the essential truths and meanings of all the scriptures, and had fully mastered the Vedas together with their ancillary disciplines (Vedāṅgas).

Word by Word

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pāśupatāḥ: Pāśupatas (followers of Paśupati)
• pāśupatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśupata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• siddhāḥ: accomplished, perfected
• siddhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: siddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhasma-uddhūlita-vigrahāḥ: whose bodies are smeared with ash
• bhasma-uddhūlita-vigrahāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक) + ud-dhūlita (कृदन्त; धातु √dhūl/√dhū (धूल्/धू) with ud-, past participle) + vigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘body (vigraha) dusted/smeared (uddhūlita) with ash (bhasma)’

• sarva-śāstra-artha-tattva-jñāḥ: knowers of the true purport of all scriptures
• sarva-śāstra-artha-tattva-jñāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + śāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + tattva (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa chain: ‘knowers (jña) of the reality (tattva) of the meanings (artha) of all scriptures (sarva-śāstra)’

• veda-vedāṅga-pāragāḥ: masters of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas
• veda-vedāṅga-pāragāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + vedāṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + pāra-ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘having gone to the far shore (pāragā) of Vedas and Vedāṅgas’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays the ideal Pāśupata devotee: inwardly perfected (siddha) through Śiva-oriented realization of tattva, and outwardly marked by bhasma—symbolizing the burning away of pāśa (bondage) so the paśu (individual soul) turns to Pati (Śiva) for liberation.

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

Bhasma and scriptural mastery are presented as supports for Saguna Śiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—where disciplined ritual and right understanding align the devotee with Śiva’s grace, leading beyond form toward the highest truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to wearing/smearing sacred ash (bhasma/Tripuṇḍra) with purity and intention, alongside disciplined study and contemplation of Vedic and Śaiva teachings—practices that strengthen mantra-sādhana (such as the Pañcākṣarī) and inner detachment.