Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14

पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः

Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge

Devanagari script

अक्षरं पशुरित्युक्तः क्षरं पाश उदाहृतः । क्षराक्षरपरं यत्तत्पतिरित्यभिधीयते

Transliteration

akṣaraṃ paśurityuktaḥ kṣaraṃ pāśa udāhṛtaḥ | kṣarākṣaraparaṃ yattatpatirityabhidhīyate

Translation

L’Immuable est nommé Paśu (l’âme individuelle) ; le périssable est déclaré Pāśa (le lien). La Réalité suprême qui transcende les deux est dite Pati : le Seigneur, Śiva.

Word by Word

• akṣaram: the imperishable (akṣara)
• akṣaram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-kṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• paśuḥ: (is) the bound soul/creature (paśu)
• paśuḥ: Pratipādya/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इति-समाप्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• uktaḥ: is said (to be)
• uktaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) → ukta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे—‘said/called’

• kṣaram: the perishable (kṣara)
• kṣaram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• pāśaḥ: (is) the bond/snare (pāśa)
• pāśaḥ: Pratipādya/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• udāhṛtaḥ: is declared
• udāhṛtaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-hṛ (धातु) → ud-āhṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘declared/mentioned’

• kṣara-akṣara-param: that which is beyond kṣara and akṣara
• kṣara-akṣara-param: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣara (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘क्षराक्षरयोः परम्’

• yat: which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• tat: that
• tat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; correlative pronoun

• patiḥ: (is) the Lord/master
• patiḥ: Pratipādya/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इति-समाप्त्यर्थक अव्यय

• abhidhīyate: is called
• abhidhīyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhidhā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘is called/denoted’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It summarizes the core Shaiva Siddhanta framework: the jīva (paśu) is inherently conscious yet bound, bondage (pāśa) is the limiting condition that keeps the soul in saṃsāra, and Śiva as Pati alone transcends both and grants liberation through grace.

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

Linga-worship trains the bound soul (paśu) to turn away from the fetters (pāśa) and contemplate Pati—Śiva—who is beyond all change. Saguna worship (form, mantra, ritual) becomes the practical means by which the soul approaches the transcendent Lord described here.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as Pati—beyond kṣara and akṣara—while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering worship to the Śiva-liṅga with bhakti and inner detachment from the pāśas (attachments and limitations).