Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

पूजाविधान-व्याख्या (Pūjāvidhāna-vyākhyā) — Exposition of the Procedure of Worship

Devanagari script

पाशविच्छेदिकां साक्षात्सच्चिदानंदरूपिणीम् । एवं देवं च देवीं च ध्यात्वासनवरे शुभे

Transliteration

pāśavicchedikāṃ sākṣātsaccidānaṃdarūpiṇīm | evaṃ devaṃ ca devīṃ ca dhyātvāsanavare śubhe

Translation

En méditant ainsi, qu’on contemple la Déesse qui tranche véritablement les liens (pāśa) et qui est, de façon immédiate, de la nature de Sat-Cit-Ānanda : Être, Conscience et Béatitude. De même, après avoir médité le Dieu et la Déesse, qu’on les contemple assis sur un siège excellent et propice.

Word by Word

• pāśa-vicchedikām: the cutter of bonds/nooses
• pāśa-vicchedikām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + vicchedikā (प्रातिपदिक; √chid से)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (pāśānāṃ vicchedikā); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• sākṣāt: directly/manifestly
• sākṣāt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sākṣāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/adverb: 'directly, in person')

• sat-cit-ānanda-rūpiṇīm: whose form is Being-Consciousness-Bliss
• sat-cit-ānanda-rūpiṇīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + cit (प्रातिपदिक) + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (satcitānandasya rūpiṇī); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus')

• devam: the god
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• devīm: the goddess
• devīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• dhyātvā: having meditated upon
• dhyātvā: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhyai (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having meditated'

• āsana-vare: on the excellent seat
• āsana-vare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsana (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (varaṃ āsanam / āsanasya varaḥ); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• śubhe: auspicious
• śubhe: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (āsana-vare इति विशेष्ये)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation arises through contemplative union with Shiva and Shakti, especially recognizing the Devi as the direct power that severs bondage (pāśa) and reveals the Sat-Cit-Ānanda reality.

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

The instruction “meditate on the God and the Goddess” supports Saguna upāsanā—worshiping Shiva (often as the Linga) together with Shakti—so the mind becomes steady and grace removes the bonds that limit the soul.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt an auspicious seat (āsana) and practice dhyāna on Shiva-Shakti; this aligns with Shiva Purana sādhanā where purity, steady posture, and focused contemplation accompany mantra-japa and worship.