Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 66

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

पाखण्डिपतितोदक्यास्सूतकान्त्यजपूर्वकान् । वर्जयेत्सर्वयत्नेन मनसा कर्मणा गिरा

Transliteration

pākhaṇḍipatitodakyāssūtakāntyajapūrvakān | varjayetsarvayatnena manasā karmaṇā girā

Translation

あらゆる努力をもって、心と行いと言葉によって、異端の者、堕落した者、儀礼上その水が不浄とされる者、出生・死による不浄（スータカ）にある者、そしてチャンダーラ等の被放逐者に始まる者どもを避けるべきである。かかる交わりは、シヴァの道における清浄と安住を妨げる。

Word by Word

• पाखण्डि: heretics
• पाखण्डि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाखण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया? (समासपूर्वपद), बहुवचन (समासाङ्ग) — masculine, compound member

• पतित: fallen (persons)
• पतित: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतित (कृदन्त; पत् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया? (समासपूर्वपद), बहुवचन (समासाङ्ग) — past participle used nominally, compound member

• उदक्याः: menstruating women
• उदक्याः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन — feminine, nominative plural (as member in list/compound)

• सूतक: birth-impurity period
• सूतक: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया? (समासपूर्वपद) — neuter, compound member

• अन्त्यज: outcaste
• अन्त्यज: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त्यज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया? (समासपूर्वपद) — masculine, compound member

• पूर्वकान्: those associated with (such as...)
• पूर्वकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन — masculine, accusative plural; qualifies the preceding group (those accompanied by/associated with)

• वर्जयेत्: should avoid
• वर्जयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — should avoid

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासपूर्वपद/समासाङ्ग — compound member meaning 'all'

• यत्नेन: with effort
• यत्नेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन — masculine, instrumental singular

• सर्वयत्नेन: with every effort
• सर्वयत्नेन: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्व + यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास, क्रियाविशेषण — indeclinable adverbial compound: 'with all effort/entirely'

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन — neuter, instrumental singular

• कर्मणा: by deed
• कर्मणा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन — neuter, instrumental singular

• गिरा: by speech
• गिरा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर्/गीर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन — feminine, instrumental singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Ethical-ritual boundary setting rather than a site legend; emphasizes saṅga-tyāga (avoidance of spiritually disruptive association) for maintaining Śaiva śuddhi.

Significance: Teaches saṃskāra-śuddhi and steadiness in vrata; protects sādhaka from dharma-bhraṃśa and mental agitation.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that a Śiva-bhakta must guard inner and outer purity—mind, speech, and action—because harmful association strengthens pasha (bondage) and destabilizes devotion, whereas careful conduct supports steadiness in worship and realization.

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

Linga worship emphasizes śauca (purity) and ekāgratā (one-pointedness). Avoiding disruptive company and ritual impurity protects the sanctity of pūjā and helps the devotee remain focused on Saguna Śiva, through whom grace leads beyond bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain disciplined conduct during Śiva-pūjā and vrata: keep pure company, restrain speech, and avoid contact that creates ritual impurity; then perform japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and worship with a steady, uncontaminated mind.