Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 81

अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace

Devanagari script

भिषगाज्ञापकः शम्भुश्शिवः परमकारणम् । अदुःखेना ऽपि शक्तो ऽसौ पशून्मोचयितुं शिवः

Transliteration

bhiṣagājñāpakaḥ śambhuśśivaḥ paramakāraṇam | aduḥkhenā 'pi śakto 'sau paśūnmocayituṃ śivaḥ

Translation

ശംഭു—പരമകാരണമനായ ശിവൻ—വൈദ്യനും നിർദ്ദേശകനുമാകുന്നു. ആത്മാവ് ദുഃഖം അനുഭവിക്കാതിരുന്നാലും ആ ശുഭപ്രഭു ബന്ധിത പാശുക്കളെ (ജീവന്മാരെ) മോചിപ്പിക്കാൻ ശേഷിയുള്ളവൻ.

Word by Word

• भिषक्-आज्ञापकः: the one who directs the physician
• भिषक्-आज्ञापकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिषक् (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञापक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘भिषजः आज्ञापकः’ (one who directs/commands the physician)

• शम्भुः: Śambhu
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/Appositive subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समनाधिकरण (apposition)

• परम-कारणम्: the supreme cause
• परम-कारणम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative/accusative in equational sense)

• अदुःखेना: even without pain; by (means of) absence of pain
• अदुःखेना: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सहकारि-करण (instrument/means)

• अपि: even; also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (particle: ‘also/even’)

• शक्तः: able; capable
• शक्तः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Predicative adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक् (धातु) → शक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘समर्थः’

• असौ: he (that one)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संकेत (demonstrative)

• पशून्: bound souls/creatures (paśus)
• पशून्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

• मोचयितुम्: to liberate; to release
• मोचयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु) → मोचयितुम् (तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-अन्त (infinitive); प्रयोजन (purpose)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुनरुक्त-कर्ता (re-stated subject)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as Pati—the Supreme Cause and compassionate healer—who can liberate the paśu (individual soul) from pāśa (bondage) by grace, not merely through the soul’s suffering or self-effort.

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

Seeing Śiva as the “physician who prescribes” supports Saguna worship—approaching Him through the Liṅga, mantra, and devotion as the accessible form through which His liberating grace operates for bound beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a “healing” sādhanā: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Liṅga-dhyāna, seeking Śiva’s anugraha (grace) for release from inner bonds such as ignorance and attachment.