Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge

Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati

Devanagari script

अविलंघ्या हि सर्वेषामाज्ञा शंभोर्गरीयसी । अवकाशमशेषाणां भूतानां संप्रयच्छति

Transliteration

avilaṃghyā hi sarveṣāmājñā śaṃbhorgarīyasī | avakāśamaśeṣāṇāṃ bhūtānāṃ saṃprayacchati

Translation

En vérité, pour tous les êtres, le commandement de Shambhu est inviolable et suprêmement grave ; il accorde la portée appropriée et la station allouée à chaque créature sans exception.

Word by Word

• अविलङ्घ्या: not to be transgressed
• अविलङ्घ्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-vi-laṅghya (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक-योग्यतार्थक कृदन्त (gerundive/नीयत्-अर्थ: ‘not to be transgressed’)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (सामान्य), षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (genitive plural)

• आज्ञा: command
• आज्ञा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन (feminine nominative singular)

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (masc. genitive singular)

• गरीयसी: greater / weightier
• गरीयसी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: garīyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक-विशेषण (comparative adjective: ‘heavier/greater’)

• अवकाशम्: space / opportunity
• अवकाशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avakāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (masc. accusative singular)

• अशेषाणाम्: of all (entire)
• अशेषाणाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; नञ्-समास (genitive plural adjective: ‘of all without remainder’)

• भूतानाम्: of beings
• भूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (neuter genitive plural)

• सम्प्रयच्छति: grants / bestows
• सम्प्रयच्छति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√yam (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (present indicative, 3rd person singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: niyati as inviolable ordinance: allotment of avakāśa (scope/station) to all bhūtas

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms Śiva as Pati—the supreme governor—whose ordinance sustains cosmic order; recognizing His inviolable ājñā cultivates surrender, humility, and alignment with dharma, which supports liberation.

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

In Linga worship, the devotee approaches Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord whose will regulates all worlds; honoring the Linga is honoring that supreme ordinance and seeking to live within the divinely given ‘avakāśa’ (right measure and place).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice īśvara-praṇidhāna (devotional surrender) by daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and mentally offer one’s actions to Śiva, resolving not to transgress dharma.