Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5

पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge

Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati

Devanagari script

तदेव पृष्टं कृष्णेन विष्णुना विश्वयोनिना । पशुत्वं च सुरादीनां पतित्वं च शिवस्य च

Transliteration

tadeva pṛṣṭaṃ kṛṣṇena viṣṇunā viśvayoninā | paśutvaṃ ca surādīnāṃ patitvaṃ ca śivasya ca

Translation

Hal itulah yang ditanyakan oleh Kṛṣṇa—yakni Viṣṇu, sumber alam semesta: tentang paśutva, keadaan jiwa-jiwa terikat bahkan para dewa, dan patitva, ketuhanan Śiva.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म/प्रधानीय (Karma; object/subject of passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'that' (refers to the knowledge/topic)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (restrictive particle): 'only/indeed'

• पृष्टम्: was asked
• पृष्टम्: क्रिया (Kriyā; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (dhātu) → pṛṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'was asked' (agrees with 'तत्')

• कृष्णेन: by Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• विष्णुना: by Viṣṇu
• विष्णुना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'कृष्णेन' इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम्

• विश्व-योनिना: by the source of the universe
• विश्व-योनिना: करण-विशेषण (Karaṇa-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + yoni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'विश्वस्य योनिः' (source of the universe); 'विष्णुना' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पशुत्वम्: the state of being a beast (bondage)
• पशुत्वम्: विषय/कर्म (Viṣaya/Karma; topic/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśutva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक (abstract noun)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• सुर-आदीनाम्: of the gods and others
• सुर-आदीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: 'सुराः आदयः येषाम्' (of the gods and others)

• पतित्वम्: lordship/mastery
• पतित्वम्: विषय/कर्म (Viṣaya/Karma; topic/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patitva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक (abstract noun)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Doctrinal framing rather than a shrine narrative: even devas are ‘paśu’ (bound) under pāśa; Śiva alone is Pati.

Significance: Cultivates humility and śaraṇāgati: recognizing even exalted beings as bound underscores the necessity of Śiva’s grace for liberation.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Krishna

FAQs

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

It frames a core Shaiva Siddhanta teaching: even devas can remain paśu (bound by pāśa), while Śiva alone is Pati—the independent Lord who grants grace and liberation.

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

By declaring Śiva as Pati, it supports Linga/Saguna worship as devotion directed to the supreme liberator, not merely to a powerful deva; the Linga represents the Lord who transcends and governs all categories of beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is surrender to Pati through Shaiva practice—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplative inquiry into paśu–pāśa–pati to cultivate detachment and seek Śiva’s grace.