Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 22

पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge

Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati

Devanagari script

यथा स्वं कर्म कुर्वन्ति नान्यत्किंचिच्छिवाज्ञया । शब्दादयोपि गृह्यंते क्रियन्ते वचनादयः

Transliteration

yathā svaṃ karma kurvanti nānyatkiṃcicchivājñayā | śabdādayopi gṛhyaṃte kriyante vacanādayaḥ

Translation

生きとし生けるものが、シヴァの命令以外には何一つ行わず、ただ定められた役割を果たすように、音などの知覚や言葉などの行為もまた、ひとえに主の命じる力によってなされるのである。

Word by Word

• यथा: just as / as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative/manner adverb)

• स्वम्: one's own
• स्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (neuter accusative singular adjective)

• कर्म: action / duty
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (neuter accusative singular)

• कुर्वन्ति: they do / perform
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (present indicative, 3rd person plural)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेधः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• अन्यत्: anything else
• अन्यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (neuter accusative singular)

• किञ्चित्: anything (at all)
• किञ्चित्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiṃcit (सर्वनाम/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun, neuter acc. sg.)

• शिवाज्ञया: by Śiva's command
• शिवाज्ञया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva-ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य आज्ञा) (feminine instrumental singular; genitive tatpurusha)

• शब्दादयः: sounds and the like
• शब्दादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śabda-ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुषसदृश-समासार्थः ‘आदि’ (śabda and the rest) (masc. nominative plural)

• अपि: also / even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• गृह्यन्ते: are grasped / are apprehended
• गृह्यन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (present, 3rd pl., passive sense)

• क्रियन्ते: are done / are performed
• क्रियन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (present, 3rd pl., passive: are done)

• वचनादयः: speech and the like
• वचनादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana-ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’समासार्थः (masc. nominative plural)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: universal niyama: all functions (karma), perceptions (grahaṇa), and actions (kriyā) proceed only by Śiva-ājñā

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that all functions—action, perception, and speech—operate under Śiva’s supreme ordinance, directing the seeker toward surrender (śaraṇāgati) and recognition of Śiva as Pati, the Lord who governs pasha (bondage) and pashu (the bound soul).

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

Linga worship trains the devotee to offer body, speech, and mind to Saguna Śiva; this verse supports that practice by affirming that even the senses and speech ultimately move by Śiva’s will, so worship becomes an alignment with His governing presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with sense-restraint and truthful, restrained speech, mentally offering every perception and utterance to Śiva as an act of inner worship.