Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15

पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge

Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati

Devanagari script

पाशैरेतैः पतिर्देवः कार्यं कारयति स्वकम् । तस्याज्ञया महेशस्य प्रकृतिः पुरुषोचिताम्

Transliteration

pāśairetaiḥ patirdevaḥ kāryaṃ kārayati svakam | tasyājñayā maheśasya prakṛtiḥ puruṣocitām

Translation

Par ces mêmes liens (pāśas), le Seigneur—Pati, le Maître divin—fait accomplir sa propre œuvre cosmique. Par l’ordre de Mahēśa, Prakṛti agit d’une manière conforme au puruṣa incarné, façonnant l’expérience selon son état.

Word by Word

• पाशैः: by the bonds / nooses
• पाशैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• एतैः: by these
• एतैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; demonstrative agreeing with पाशैः

• पतिः: the Lord / master
• पतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular; apposition to पतिः

• कार्यं: the task / work
• कार्यं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• कारयति: causes (it) to be done
• कारयति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) (णिच् causative: कारय-)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative present, 3rd person singular, परस्मैपद

• स्वकम्: his own
• स्वकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agreeing with कार्यम्

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• आज्ञया: by (his) command
• आज्ञया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• महेशस्य: of Maheśa
• महेशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• प्रकृतिः: Prakṛti (Nature)
• प्रकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• पुरुष-उचिताम्: that which is suitable for the Puruṣa
• पुरुष-उचिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + उचित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पुरुषस्य उचिताम्); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object/complement (ellipsis of e.g. 'करोति/जनयति')

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva Siddhanta doctrine to the sages at Naimisharanya within the Vāyavīya discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Mahesha)
• Pati
• Prakriti
• Purusha

FAQs

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

It teaches the Shaiva Siddhanta framework: Śiva as Pati (Lord) governs the cosmos and the soul’s bondage; the bonds (pāśas) are instruments through which karma and experience unfold until liberation dawns by His grace.

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

Worship of the Liṅga (Saguna Śiva as accessible form) is a means to turn the bound soul toward Pati; recognizing Śiva as the supreme governor of Prakṛti supports devotion, surrender, and the seeking of His anugraha (liberating grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is surrender and contemplative discernment: meditate on Śiva as Pati beyond Prakṛti while repeating the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to loosen pāśas (bondage) and orient the mind toward liberation.