Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

शिवभावं समागम्य शिवयोगमथाचरेत् । कुर्यात्स्त्रिसन्ध्यमप्येवमेतत्पाशुपतं व्रतम्

Transliteration

śivabhāvaṃ samāgamya śivayogamathācaret | kuryātstrisandhyamapyevametatpāśupataṃ vratam

Translation

Étant entré dans l’état de Śiva—absorbé dans Sa conscience—qu’on pratique alors le Śiva-yoga. Ainsi, en l’accomplissant aux trois sandhyās quotidiennes (aube, midi et crépuscule), qu’on observe ce vœu pāśupata.

Word by Word

• शिव-भावम्: the state/nature of Śiva
• शिव-भावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'शिवस्य भावः'

• समागम्य: having attained / having approached
• समागम्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• शिव-योगम्: Śiva-yoga (union/discipline of Śiva)
• शिव-योगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'शिवस्य योगः'

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• आचरेत्: should practice
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्रि-सन्ध्यम्: the three daily sandhyā rites
• त्रि-सन्ध्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + सन्ध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: 'तिस्रः सन्ध्याः' (three sandhyā-times)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (thus/in this manner)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally)

• पाशुपतम्: Pāśupata
• पाशुपतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation-oriented practice begins with śivabhāva—inner Shiva-consciousness—and is stabilized through disciplined Shiva-yoga performed consistently each day, reflecting the Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on transforming the soul (paśu) by grace-aligned practice toward the Lord (Pati).

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

The tri-sandhyā observance typically expresses itself as regular Saguna worship—often including Linga-pūjā, mantra-japa, and contemplative absorption—so that external devotion supports inner śivabhāva and matures into steady Shiva-yoga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Observe the Pāśupata vow by practicing Shiva-yoga at dawn, noon, and dusk—combining focused meditation on Shiva with daily worship rhythms (sandhyā), commonly supported by mantra-japa and purity disciplines.