Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30

पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः

Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge

Devanagari script

किमात्मकं तदव्यक्तं केनाकारेण भुज्यते । किं तस्य शरणं भुक्तौ शरीरं च किमुच्यते

Transliteration

kimātmakaṃ tadavyaktaṃ kenākāreṇa bhujyate | kiṃ tasya śaraṇaṃ bhuktau śarīraṃ ca kimucyate

Translation

«Quelle est la nature de cet Avyakta (le Non-manifesté) ? Sous quelle forme est-il éprouvé ? Lorsqu’il est goûté/expérimenté, quel est son refuge ? Et qu’est-ce donc, en vérité, que l’on appelle “le corps” ?»

Word by Word

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्न-सर्वनाम

• आत्मकम्: of what nature/consisting of
• आत्मकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तदव्यक्तम् इति)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta/Karma (कर्ता/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अव्यक्तम्: the unmanifest
• अव्यक्तम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेष्यरूपेण (the unmanifest)

• केन: by what?
• केन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; प्रश्न-सर्वनाम

• आकारेण: by what form/mode
• आकारेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• भुज्यते: is enjoyed/experienced
• भुज्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Predicate interrogative (प्रश्न-विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्न-सर्वनाम

• तस्य: of it/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• शरणम्: refuge/support
• शरणम्: Predicate nominal (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भुक्तौ: in enjoyment/experience
• भुक्तौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• शरीरम्: body
• शरीरम्: Karta/Karma (कर्ता/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Predicate interrogative (प्रश्न-विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्न-सर्वनाम

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā discourse to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames core Shaiva philosophical inquiry: how the subtle Unmanifest is known, what supports embodied experience, and what “body” truly means—preparing the seeker to distinguish Pati (Shiva), Pashu (soul), and Pasha (bondage).

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

The question “by what form is it experienced?” points to the Shaiva method: the Nirguna reality is approached through Saguna supports—especially the Shiva-Linga and mantra—so the mind can rest on a sanctified form while realizing the formless Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditative self-inquiry supported by Shiva-upasana: japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Linga-dhyana; optionally reinforced by Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha as aids for steadiness and purity.