Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38

पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge

Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati

Devanagari script

देवैश्च पीयते चंद्रश्चन्द्रभूषणशासनात् । आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा अश्विनौ मरुतस्तथा

Transliteration

devaiśca pīyate caṃdraścandrabhūṣaṇaśāsanāt | ādityā vasavo rudrā aśvinau marutastathā

Translation

Par l’ordre du Seigneur qui porte la Lune en ornement (Śiva), même la Lune est « bue » (son essence est puisée) par les dieux. De même les Ādityas, les Vasus, les Rudras, les Aśvins et les Maruts y prennent part—chacun étant soutenu par Son ordonnance.

Word by Word

• देवैः: by the gods
• देवैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• पीयते: is drunk
• पीयते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• चन्द्रः: the Moon
• चन्द्रः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चन्द्रभूषणशासनात्: by the command of the one whose ornament is the Moon
• चन्द्रभूषणशासनात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक) + शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (चन्द्रः भूषणं यस्य तस्य शासनात्)

• आदित्याः: the Ādityas
• आदित्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वसवः: the Vasus
• वसवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• रुद्राः: the Rudras
• रुद्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अश्विनौ: the Aśvins (twin gods)
• अश्विनौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (dual)

• मरुतः: the Maruts
• मरुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (thus/also)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga account; the epithet ‘Candrabhūṣaṇa’ (moon-crested Śiva) underscores Śiva’s iconographic and theological supremacy: even Soma (Moon) and the deva-gaṇas depend on His ordinance.

Significance: Supports Somavāra (Monday) Śiva-upāsanā: remembering Śiva as Candrabhūṣaṇa aligns lunar rhythms and deva-nourishment with Śiva’s grace and governance.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Lunar economy implied: Soma as nourishment for devas; deva-gaṇas (Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, Aśvins, Maruts) functioning within Śiva-ordained cosmic order

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Chandra
• Adityas
• Vasus
• Rudras
• Ashvins
• Maruts

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Śiva as Pati—the sovereign Lord whose ordinance sustains even the cosmic powers; the devas thrive not independently, but by His governing grace and order.

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

Calling Śiva ‘the one adorned with the Moon’ points to Saguna Shiva (Chandrasekhara) worship: the Linga represents His transcendent presence while His forms show His active governance of the universe.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Chandrasekhara Shiva and recite the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with the attitude of surrender to His śāsana (divine ordinance), offering water or milk to the Linga as a symbol of aligning one’s life-force with His order.