Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

शिवज्ञान-प्रश्नः तथा सृष्टौ शिवस्य स्वयमाविर्भावः

Inquiry into Śiva-knowledge and Śiva’s self-manifestation in creation

Devanagari script

अपश्यंतस्तमीशानं स्तुवंतश्चैव सामभिः । व्रतं पाशुपतं कृत्वा त्वथर्वशिरसि स्थितम्

Transliteration

apaśyaṃtastamīśānaṃ stuvaṃtaścaiva sāmabhiḥ | vrataṃ pāśupataṃ kṛtvā tvatharvaśirasi sthitam

Translation

Sans voir directement le Seigneur Īśāna, ils le louèrent par des hymnes du Sāma ; et, ayant accompli l’observance pāśupata, ils demeurèrent établis dans l’Atharvaśiras, reposant dans l’enseignement secret qui révèle Paśupati, le Seigneur des êtres.

Word by Word

• अपश्यन्तः: not seeing
• अपश्यन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle) + नञ्-उपसर्ग (अ-), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ईशानम्: Īśāna (Śiva)
• ईशानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘Īśāna’ (a name of Śiva)

• स्तुवन्तः: praising
• स्तुवन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• सामभिः: with Sāma hymns
• सामभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• व्रतम्: a vow
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पाशुपतम्: Pāśupata
• पाशुपतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; व्रतस्य विशेषणम्

• कृत्वा: having undertaken
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund), ‘having done/undertaken’

• तु: then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अनुक्रम (but/then)

• अथर्वशिरसि: in the Atharvaśiras (text/section)
• अथर्वशिरसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अथर्व-शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक; अथर्व + शिरस्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (अथर्वणः शिरः/अथर्वशिरः-नाम्नि)

• स्थितम्: established/contained
• स्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (व्रतम्) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that even without direct vision of Shiva, sincere Vedic praise and disciplined Shaiva observance (Pāśupata vrata) mature into inner establishment in Shiva-knowledge, where Paśu (the soul) turns toward Pati (Shiva) and loosens Pāśa (bondage).

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

The verse emphasizes worship through hymn and vow—outer forms that support Saguna devotion—leading the devotee toward the inner, scriptural realization of Shiva taught in Atharvaśiras, where the Linga principle is understood as the abiding mark of the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Undertake a Pāśupata-style discipline: regular Shiva-stuti (hymns), mantra-japa aligned with Shaiva teaching, and steady observance (vrata) that culminates in contemplation of Shiva as Paśupati, the liberator from bonds.