Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 63

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

पयोव्रतो वा भिक्षाशी भवेदेकाशनस्तथा । नक्तं युक्ताशनो नित्यं भूशय्यानिरतः शुचिः

Transliteration

payovrato vā bhikṣāśī bhavedekāśanastathā | naktaṃ yuktāśano nityaṃ bhūśayyānirataḥ śuciḥ

Translation

Qu’il observe le vœu de ne prendre que du lait, ou qu’il vive d’aumônes ; qu’il ne mange qu’une fois par jour, ou qu’il prenne sa nourriture la nuit, en juste mesure. Toujours attaché à dormir à même le sol, qu’il demeure pur—discipliné dans le corps et dans la conduite.

Word by Word

• पयः-व्रतः: one whose vow is (to take) milk
• पयः-व्रतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पयःस्य व्रतः)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (particle of alternative)

• भिक्षा-आशी: one who eats alms
• भिक्षा-आशी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + आशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भिक्षायाः आशी)

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एक-आशनः: one who eats once (a day)
• एक-आशनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + आशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (एकम् आशनम् यस्य/एकं आशनम्)

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: in that manner)

• नक्तम्: at night
• नक्तम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नक्तम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: at night)

• युक्त-आशनः: one who eats in a regulated/proper manner
• युक्त-आशनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युक्त (कृदन्त; युज् धातु) + आशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (युक्तम् आशनम् यस्य/युक्तम् आशनम्)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगे नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचन-प्रथमा/द्वितीया रूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (always)

• भू-शय्या-निरतः: devoted to sleeping on the ground
• भू-शय्या-निरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक) + शय्या (प्रातिपदिक) + निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भूशय्यायां निरतः)

• शुचिः: pure/clean
• शुचिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Austerities (milk-vow, alms-living, single meal, night-meal, sleeping on ground) discipline the senses and weaken pāśa, making the aspirant fit for Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that purification (śauca) and restraint in food, sleep, and comfort are supports for inner steadiness, making the seeker fit for Shiva-realization (Pati-jñāna) through disciplined tapas.

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

Such vows and moderation are preparatory disciplines for focused Linga-worship—especially night worship—reducing distraction and strengthening devotion so the mind can rest in Saguna Shiva and mature toward the highest truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a vrata: milk-only or alms-based diet, one meal or measured night-meal, sleep on the ground, maintain cleanliness—supporting steady japa (e.g., Panchakshara) and night-time Shiva worship.