Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 59

पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः

Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge

Devanagari script

यथा काष्ठं च काष्ठं च समेयातां महोदधौ । समेत्य च व्यपेयातां तद्वद्भूतसमागमः

Transliteration

yathā kāṣṭhaṃ ca kāṣṭhaṃ ca sameyātāṃ mahodadhau | sametya ca vyapeyātāṃ tadvadbhūtasamāgamaḥ

Translation

大海にて一つの木片と別の木片が漂い寄り、出会ってはまた離れゆくように――身を帯びた衆生の邂逅もまたそのごとし。業と束縛に支配された一時の結合であり、永遠の合一ではない。

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/यथार्थक-अव्यय (as/just as)

• काष्ठम्: a piece of wood
• काष्ठम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• काष्ठम्: (another) piece of wood
• काष्ठम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• समेयाताम्: may (the two) come together
• समेयाताम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-i (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन (dual)

• महोदधौ: in the great ocean
• महोदधौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-udadhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय (‘महान् उदधिः’); पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• समेत्य: having met
• समेत्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-i (धातु) → समेत्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive); अव्ययभाव (having met)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• व्यपेयाताम्: may (the two) separate/go apart
• व्यपेयाताम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-apa-i (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन (dual)

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तद्वत्-प्रयोग (in that manner/likewise)

• भूतसमागमः: the meeting of beings
• भूतसमागमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + samāgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘भूतानां समागमः’); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

FAQs

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

It teaches vairagya (detachment): worldly associations arise and dissolve due to karma and pasha (bondage), so one should seek the lasting refuge of Pati—Lord Shiva—through devotion and right knowledge.

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

By showing the instability of worldly supports, it redirects the seeker to steady worship—Linga-upasana and Saguna Shiva-bhakti—as a practical means to transcend changing relationships and move toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a mind of detachment, and reinforce purity and discipline through Shaiva observances such as bhasma (Tripundra) and steady meditation on Shiva as the liberating Lord.