Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 69

पशु-पाश-पतिविचारः / Inquiry into Paśu, Pāśa, and Pati

Devanagari script

मुमुक्षुरस्मात्संसारात्प्रपद्ये शरणं शिवम् । निष्फलं निष्क्रियं शांतं निरवद्यं निरंजनम्

Transliteration

mumukṣurasmātsaṃsārātprapadye śaraṇaṃ śivam | niṣphalaṃ niṣkriyaṃ śāṃtaṃ niravadyaṃ niraṃjanam

Translation

Désireux de la délivrance hors de ce saṃsāra, je prends refuge en Śiva : au-delà de tout fruit, au-delà de l’action, parfaitement paisible, sans faute et sans souillure.

Word by Word

• मुमुक्षुः: (I) desiring liberation
• मुमुक्षुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √मुच् (धातु)
• Form: उणादि/इच्छार्थक-प्रातिपदिक (desiderative noun: 'one desiring liberation'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्ता

• अस्मात्: from this
• अस्मात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative: 'from this')

• संसारात्: from worldly existence (saṃsāra)
• संसारात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative singular)

• प्रपद्ये: I take refuge, I surrender
• प्रपद्ये: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√पद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म (object/complement with प्रपद्ये)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• निष्फलम्: fruitless
• निष्फलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (acc sg; 'fruitless')

• निष्क्रियम्: actionless
• निष्क्रियम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + क्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (acc sg; 'actionless')

• शान्तम्: peaceful
• शान्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (acc sg)

• निरवद्यम्: blameless
• निरवद्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + अवद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (acc sg; 'blameless')

• निरञ्जनम्: stainless, untainted
• निरञ्जनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + अञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (acc sg; 'stainless/untainted')

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vayu Samhita’s Shaiva teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse defines the core Shaiva path of moksha: the mumukṣu abandons dependence on samsaric results and takes refuge in Pati (Śiva), who is described as stainless, faultless, and transcendent—pointing to liberation through surrender and inner purification rather than worldly attainment.

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

Though the verse praises Śiva in nirguṇa terms (niṣkriya, nirañjana), Shaiva practice approaches this same Reality through saguna supports like the Śiva-liṅga—worshipping the liṅga to steady devotion and meditation until the seeker realizes the spotless, actionless Śiva indicated here.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies śaraṇāgati with japa and dhyāna: repeat the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a refuge-intent, and meditate on Śiva as śānta and nirañjana; supporting rites like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa may be adopted as aids to steadiness and purity.