Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 57

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga

Devanagari script

पशुपाशमयस्यास्य प्रपञ्चस्य सदा पतिम् । अकुतोभयमत्यंतमवृद्धिक्षयमव्ययम्

Transliteration

paśupāśamayasyāsya prapañcasya sadā patim | akutobhayamatyaṃtamavṛddhikṣayamavyayam

Translation

Je révère sans cesse le Seigneur (Pati) de cet univers manifesté, fait d’âmes liées (paśu) et de leurs liens (pāśa) : Śiva, parfaitement sans crainte, au-delà de tout accroissement et de tout déclin, impérissable.

Word by Word

• पशु-पाश-मयस्य: of (the world) made of beings and bonds
• पशु-पाश-मयस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पशु + पाश + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध) एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् (प्रपञ्चस्य)

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध) एकवचन

• प्रपञ्चस्य: of the manifested world
• प्रपञ्चस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रपञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध) एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण; adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (always)

• पतिम्: lord/master
• पतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन

• अकुतोभयम्: fearless
• अकुतोभयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकुतोभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (कुतोऽपि भयम् न यस्य = fearless from any side); विशेषणम् (पतिम्)

• अत्यन्तम्: exceedingly
• अत्यन्तम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; intensifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यन्तम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/तीव्रतावाचक (exceedingly)

• अ-वृद्धि-क्षयम्: without increase or decay
• अ-वृद्धि-क्षयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + वृद्धि + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘वृद्धि-क्षय’ इति इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः, नञ्-पूर्वकः; विशेषणम् (पतिम्)

• अव्ययम्: imperishable
• अव्ययम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पतिम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga-specific passage; it is an explicit doctrinal crystallization of the Pati–Paśu–Pāśa triad, identifying Śiva as the ever-Lord of a cosmos constituted by souls and bonds.

Significance: Reciting/remembering this teaching strengthens siddhānta-bhakti: surrender to Pati, discernment of pāśa (mala/karma/māyā), and aspiration for anugraha leading to release.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord who rules and liberates the bound soul (paśu) from the bonds (pāśa), affirming His changeless, imperishable nature as the ground of liberation.

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

Though Shiva is described as beyond change (nirvikāra), devotees approach Him through Saguna forms such as the Linga, worshipping the visible symbol of the very Pati who transcends the world yet governs it.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the Pashu–Pasha–Pati triad while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (“Om Namah Shivaya”), meditating on Shiva as the fearless, imperishable Lord who cuts the bonds of bondage.