Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 63

पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः

Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge

Devanagari script

अज्ञो जंतुरनीशो ऽयमात्मनस्सुखदुःखयोः । ईश्वरप्रेरितो गच्छेत्स्वर्गं वा श्वभ्रमेव वा

Transliteration

ajño jaṃturanīśo 'yamātmanassukhaduḥkhayoḥ | īśvaraprerito gacchetsvargaṃ vā śvabhrameva vā

Translation

Cet être incarné est ignorant et n’est pas maître de sa propre joie et de sa propre peine. Poussé par l’impulsion du Seigneur Īśvara, il va—soit au ciel, soit vers un état misérable, tel un gouffre.

Word by Word

• अज्ञः: ignorant
• अज्ञः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जन्तुः: creature / embodied being
• जन्तुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अनीशः: not independent / powerless
• अनीशः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘not master/helpless’; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आत्मनः: of the self
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular; Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• सुखदुःखयोः: of pleasure and pain
• सुखदुःखयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘सुख’ + ‘दुःख’ इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व; Neuter, Genitive, Dual

• ईश्वरप्रेरितः: impelled by the Lord
• ईश्वरप्रेरितः: Hetu/Nimitta (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईश्वर + प्रेरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘ईश्वरस्य प्रेरितः’ (agentive genitive) / ‘ईश्वरेण प्रेरितः’ (instrumental sense); प्रेरित = क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle) from प्र-ईर्/प्रेर्; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गच्छेत्: would go / may go
• गच्छेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; Optative, 3rd person singular, Parasmaipada

• स्वर्गम्: to heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वा: or
• वा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात; disjunctive particle

• श्वभ्रम्: a pit / abyss
• श्वभ्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात—‘indeed/just’; emphatic particle

• वा: or
• वा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात; disjunctive particle

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ishvara

FAQs

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

It teaches the Shaiva Siddhanta view that the jiva (pashu) is bound by ignorance and cannot fully control sukha-duhkha; outcomes unfold under Ishvara (Pati) in accordance with karma, urging surrender and liberation-seeking devotion.

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

By declaring Ishvara as the true governor of experience and destiny, the verse supports turning to Saguna Shiva—worshipped as the Linga—as the accessible Lord whose grace loosens bondage and directs the soul toward auspicious states and ultimately moksha.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Ishvara-sharana (surrender) through japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namah Shivaya,” along with steady Shiva-dhyana, so the mind stops claiming mastery over pleasure and pain and aligns with Shiva’s grace.