Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 2

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

वायुरुवाच । रहस्यं वः प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वपापनिकृन्तनम् । व्रतं पाशुपतं श्रौतमथर्वशिरसि श्रुतम्

Transliteration

vāyuruvāca | rahasyaṃ vaḥ pravakṣyāmi sarvapāpanikṛntanam | vrataṃ pāśupataṃ śrautamatharvaśirasi śrutam

Translation

വായു പറഞ്ഞു—സകല പാപങ്ങളും ഛേദിക്കുന്ന രഹസ്യം ഞാൻ നിങ്ങളോട് പ്രസ്താവിക്കും; അതർവശിരസ്സിൽ ശ്രുതമായ ശ്രൗത പാശുപത വ്രതം തന്നെയാണ് അത്.

Word by Word

• वायुः: Vāyu
• वायुः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रहस्यम्: secret (teaching)
• रहस्यम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रहस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• वः: to you
• वः: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी (4th/6th), बहुवचन; अत्र चतुर्थी (recipient)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I will explain/tell
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्व-पाप-निकृन्तनम्: destroyer of all sins
• सर्व-पाप-निकृन्तनम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + निकृन्तन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; नि + कृन्त् धातु)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास; ‘सर्वेषां पापानां निकृन्तनम्’ (destroyer of all sins); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; रहस्यम्/व्रतम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पाशुपतम्: Pāśupata
• पाशुपतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; व्रतम् इति विशेषणम्

• श्रौत-म्: based on śruti/vedic
• श्रौत-म्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रौत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; व्रतम् इति विशेषणम्

• अथर्व-शिरसि: in the Atharvaśiras (Upaniṣad/text)
• अथर्व-शिरसि: अधिकरण (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अथर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अथर्वणः शिरः = Atharvaśiras, text-name); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• श्रुतम्: heard/mentioned
• श्रुतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘heard/recorded’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; व्रतम् इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Vayu

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Positions the Pāśupata observance as a śruti-rooted ‘secret’ that severs pāpa (a facet of bondage), preparing the soul for Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse frames the Pāśupata vrata as an esoteric, Śiva-centered discipline that severs accumulated sin (pāpa), preparing the bound soul (paśu) for Śiva’s grace and liberation—key themes of Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

By naming the observance “Pāśupata,” the verse points to devotion to Paśupati—Saguna Śiva approachable through worship (often including Linga-upāsanā), where ritual purity and surrender become supports for inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It indicates undertaking a śrauta-aligned Pāśupata vow—i.e., a disciplined Shaiva regimen grounded in śruti (Atharvaśiras), typically involving regulated conduct, mantra-oriented devotion to Śiva, and purificatory observances aimed at cutting sin.