Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 61

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

समर्पयेत्स्वगुरवे स्थापयेद्वा शिवालये । संपूज्य च गुरून्विप्रान्व्रतिनश्च विशेषतः

Transliteration

samarpayetsvagurave sthāpayedvā śivālaye | saṃpūjya ca gurūnviprānvratinaśca viśeṣataḥ

Translation

Qu’on l’offre à son propre guru, ou bien qu’on l’installe dans un sanctuaire de Śiva. Et, après avoir honoré comme il se doit les gurus, les sages brāhmanes et surtout ceux qui observent des vœux, qu’on agisse en conséquence.

Word by Word

• समर्पयेत्: should offer/dedicate
• समर्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+अर्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्व-गुरवे: to one’s own guru
• स्व-गुरवे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य गुरुः = one’s own guru)

• स्थापयेत्: should install/place
• स्थापयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) (णिच्) → स्थापय (धातु-प्रयोग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: cause to be placed)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक (or)

• शिव-आलये: in a Śiva-temple
• शिव-आलये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य आलयः = temple of Śiva)

• संपूज्य: having worshipped well
• संपूज्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+पूज् (धातु) → संपूज्य (ल्यप्)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having duly worshipped’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• गुरून्: gurus/teachers
• गुरून्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• विप्रान्: brāhmaṇas
• विप्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• व्रतिनः: vow-observers/ascetics
• व्रतिनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (व्रतिनः = व्रतिनान् वैदिक-प्रयोगे)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/विशेषवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (especially)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Dedicating the liṅga to one’s guru or installing it in a Śiva-temple links private sādhana to the public field of merit (puṇya-kṣetra) and guru-anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Śiva-worship becomes spiritually complete when it is anchored in right relationship: dedication to the guru, reverence to learned vipras, and honoring disciplined vow-observers—supporting purity (śuddhi) and grace (anugraha) in the Shaiva path.

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

By advising installation in a Śiva-temple, the verse points to Saguna Śiva worship through established forms (such as the Liṅga) and proper temple protocol, where devotion is expressed through consecration, worship, and respectful participation in the Śaiva community.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests a practical rite of dedication (samarpana) or installation (sthāpana) connected with Śiva worship, followed by respectful pūjā of one’s guru and qualified spiritual practitioners—implying disciplined vrata-supporting practice rather than solitary ritual.