Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 83

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

ततो दण्डजटाचीरमेखला अपि चोत्सृजेत् । पुनराचम्य विधिवत्पञ्चाक्षरमुदीरयेत्

Transliteration

tato daṇḍajaṭācīramekhalā api cotsṛjet | punarācamya vidhivatpañcākṣaramudīrayet

Translation

Ensuite, il doit déposer même le bâton, les jaṭā (mèches emmêlées), le vêtement d’écorce et la ceinture. Après avoir accompli de nouveau l’ācamana selon la règle, il doit réciter le mantra aux cinq syllabes : «Namaḥ Śivāya».

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla/krama-dyotaka (काल/क्रम-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• daṇḍa-jaṭā-cīra-mekhalāḥ: staff, matted hair, bark-garment, and girdle
• daṇḍa-jaṭā-cīra-mekhalāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + jaṭā (प्रातिपदिक) + cīra (प्रातिपदिक) + mekhalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (समाहार/इतरेतर) listing items; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) as head ‘mekhalā’; Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha-dyotaka (सम्बन्ध-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) meaning ‘also/even’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• utsṛjet: should relinquish
• utsṛjet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• punar: again
• punar: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• ācamya: having sipped (water)
• ācamya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√cam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त), from ā-√cam ‘to sip (water)’

• vidhivat: properly; as prescribed
• vidhivat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (वत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय): ‘according to rule’

• pañca-akṣaram: the five-syllabled (mantra)
• pañca-akṣaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (संख्या) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu (संख्यापूर्वक समास): pañca + akṣara; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• udīrayet: should utter/recite
• udīrayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√īr (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Teaches transition from external vrata-markers to inner Śiva-identification through pañcākṣara; symbolizes loosening of pāśa (bondage) by disciplined surrender.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that external ascetic symbols are secondary to inner purity and disciplined remembrance of Śiva; the core act is prescribed purification (ācamana) followed by sincere japa of the Pañcākṣara, aligning the soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati) for liberation.

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

By directing the devotee to recite the Pañcākṣara after purification, it emphasizes mantra-centered Saguna worship—approaching Śiva through His sacred name, commonly practiced alongside Liṅga-pūjā as the living focus of devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform ācamana विधिवत (ritual sipping for purity), drop reliance on mere external identifiers, and begin Pañcākṣara-japa (“Namaḥ Śivāya”) with focused mind as the primary sādhana.