Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

कालश्चैत्री पौर्णमासी देशः शिवपरिग्रहः । क्षेत्रारामाद्यरण्यं वा प्रशस्तश्शुभलक्षणः

Transliteration

kālaścaitrī paurṇamāsī deśaḥ śivaparigrahaḥ | kṣetrārāmādyaraṇyaṃ vā praśastaśśubhalakṣaṇaḥ

Translation

Le moment convenable est la pleine lune de Caitra ; le lieu convenable est une contrée appartenant au Seigneur Śiva, ou qui Lui est consacrée—qu’il s’agisse d’un champ sacré, d’un jardin, voire d’une forêt—pourvu qu’elle soit reconnue par la tradition et marquée de signes fastes.

Word by Word

• kālaḥ: time
• kālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• caitrī: (the) Caitrī (of the month Caitra)
• caitrī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caitrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• paurṇamāsī: full-moon day
• paurṇamāsī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paurṇamāsī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• deśaḥ: place
• deśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• śiva-parigrahaḥ: (a place) belonging to/accepted by Śiva
• śiva-parigrahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + parigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘शिवस्य परिग्रहः’

• kṣetra-ārāma-ādi-araṇyam: a field, garden, etc., or a forest (collectively)
• kṣetra-ārāma-ādi-araṇyam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक) + ārāma (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + araṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative): ‘क्षेत्रं च आरामः च आदयः च अरण्यं च’

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• praśastaḥ: commended, approved
• praśastaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praśasta (प्रातिपदिक; √śas धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle used adjectivally)

• śubha-lakṣaṇaḥ: having auspicious marks
• śubha-lakṣaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘शुभं लक्ष्णं यस्य/शुभलक्षणः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General vrata-setting instruction: choose a Śiva-sanctified domain (śiva-parigraha) with auspicious marks; not tied to a single Jyotirliṅga in this verse.

Significance: Emphasizes kṣetra-śuddhi and kāla-śuddhi: selecting auspicious time/place for Pāśupata observance is itself a purifier and enhancer of sādhana.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-sādhana is strengthened when done at an auspicious time (Caitra Pūrṇimā) and in a sanctified space dedicated to Śiva; outer order supports inner purity, helping the soul (paśu) turn toward the Lord (Pati) and loosen bondage (pāśa).

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

By specifying a Śiva-connected place—kṣetra, garden, or forest—it points to establishing or approaching a suitable kṣetra for Saguna worship, where the Liṅga is honored as Śiva’s accessible presence for devotion, mantra, and offering.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Observe an auspicious tithi like Caitra Pūrṇimā, choose a Śiva-sanctified place, and perform focused Liṅga-pūjā with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”); if following custom, apply vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and maintain a calm, pure mindset.